Embracing "This is Africa" – Young Japanese Expats Abroad Contributing Locally and Globally

It’s one of my favorites: a classic dish loved in Ghana, "Red Red," accompanied by rice, chicken and shrimp. Red Red is a tomato-based bean stew that is paired with plantains. The name of the dish comes from the red palm oil used to cook it. The meal portions in Ghana tend to be large, and I often brought them home with me when I first started working here because I couldn't finish everything. But I started eating a lighter dinner or not eating at all later on in the day, and now I am able to finish the large portion sizes regularly. A number of Ghanaian cuisines feature dried fish powder, which is a familiar taste for Japanese people.

As a financial associate at a power generation company, my work involves issuing invoices to Ghana's Electricity Authority and reporting to shareholders and financial institutions. I usually work in an office in central Accra, the capital, but when clients want to visit the power plant, about an hour's drive from the capital, I travel there as well. To date, we have taken clients from a wide range of sectors to the power plant so that they can familiarize themselves with Sumitomo Corporation’s presence and role in Ghana.

I come to work in the office two or three times a week, and the rest of the time, I work remotely from home. Due to the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we have continued with the hybrid working style, but recently the finance team has been getting together in person once a week. This has also given us more opportunities to interact with other employees. Perhaps because a number of Japanese expatriates have worked here in the past, the workplace is very welcoming, and some Ghanaian staff even use Japanese expressions like "Mata ashita" (See you tomorrow) and "Otsukaresama desu" (Good work). My team consists of six members: the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who is also here on dispatch from Sumitomo Corporation, four Ghanaian staff members and myself. Although we carry out important duties that include interacting with the government, our team is always joking and the atmosphere is very friendly.

In the almost two years since I came to Ghana, I have often heard the expressions "This is Africa" and "This is Ghana." These expressions are used in situations where dynamics and energy not found in other regions are prevalent. They also carry a nuance that what is common sense for those from outside is not always applied in Africa or Ghana. Keeping this in mind at all times, I try to communicate with my colleagues with respect to the Ghanaian culture and rules, rather than imposing my Japanese experiences and ways of thinking.

Many Japanese staff working in Ghana spend their weekends playing golf or tennis, and I play golf and practice boxing once a week. In Ghana I don't walk outside as much as I used to, so exercising through golf and boxing is a good way to clear my mind. I also try to take advantage of the experiences that only Ghana can offer, including traveling within the country. I’ve also had the opportunity to visit ten new countries, mainly neighboring countries but also in Europe, during my time here.

The project I am assigned to has been seriously affected by the financial crisis in Ghana, and has gone through a number of challenging phases. I believe we have been able to persevere without giving up because "Enriching lives and the world" lies at the root of our business, as stated in Sumitomo Corporation’s corporate message. I am grateful for the chance to gain valuable experience in the field, even when things don't always proceed exactly as I had imagined.