The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana met with Ghana Olympic Committee President Ben Nunoo Mensah to discuss preparations for Tokyo 2020 ©GOC

Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Tsutomu Himeno, has met officials from the country – including National Olympic Committee President Ben Nunoo Mensah and the country’s Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah – to discuss preparations for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

In a meeting held at Ghana’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Asiamah, according to the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), "implored" Himeno to help with the completion of the Ghanaian Government’s Amasaman Project, a social housing development on the country’s south coast.

Asiamah reportedly told Himeno that if Japan were to help, it would "be a legacy to the Japanese Government as a discharge of their social responsibility".

It was also noted a delegation from Ghana would visit Inawashiro in Japan in May, to assess the facilities at which Team Ghana will train ahead of next year’s Olympics. 

The Ghana Olympic Committee claimed it is confident of winning its first Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 ©GOC
The Ghana Olympic Committee claimed it is confident of winning its first Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 ©GOC

Asiamah also thanked Himeno for Japan’s help in creating a baseball pitch at a secondary school in Ghana, while GOC President Mensah declared the country’s men’s football team a medal hope ahead of the Games.

In a statement following the meeting, the GOC claimed that in light of the work between them and the Ministry of Youth and Sport, "it would be no surprise to see Ghana sweeping medals" at Tokyo 2020.

The African nation has never won an Olympic gold and their last of any colour came at Barcelona 1992 - a bronze in the men's football. 

But, despite that, the GOC claimed Ghana was being "extremely proactive" in the quest for a gold medal at Tokyo 2020.