Delegation from the Republic of Ghana, Africa, to Visit Izu Peninsula

2023.03.06

From March 8 to 10, an observation team from the Republic of Ghana in West Africa will visit Izu Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark. The two visitors work for an organisation that aims to support sustainable development and youth in Africa under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme, and are looking at Global Geoparks as a means of creating sustainable communities. They are scheduled to learn about Geopark management in Japan on the Izu Peninsula and in Itoigawa, Niigata, with the future aim of establishing Geoparks in Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa. As a representative of Izu Peninsula Gaopark and Tourism Bureau commented, “International exchange is an important mission of UNESCO global geoparks. It is also UNESCO's long-held wish to expand its global geopark network to Sub-Saharan Africa. We hope that this visit will serve as a catalyst for the establishment of the first global geopark in West Africa, as well as the first sister geopark agreement to be signed by an Asian global geopark and the Sub-Saharan region.”  The Republic of Ghana has ties with Japan, being the site of Hideyo Noguchi's yellow fever research, and the capital Accra still has a street named after the scientist, Hideyo Noguchi Street.

■Date: March 8, afternoon - Visit to Nagaizumi Geopark Visitor Center,

Tourism Interaction Association

March 9, Management training at Georia and the Izu Peninsula Geopark and Tourism Bureau.

March 10, Visit to wasabi fields of Ikadaba (Izu) and Mt. Omuro (Ito).