China Offers 271 Scholarships To Ghanaian Students

Ms Wang and Ghanaian journalists after the interaction in Beijing

China has stated that it will continue to offer support to various sectors of the Ghanaian economy after the Asian country, which is the second biggest economy in the world, said it has offered 271 scholarships to Ghanaian students to study in various Chinese universities.

According to Ke Wang, Deputy Director General for the African Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the scholarships were provided to the students to enable them to contribute their quota to the Ghanaian economy after completion of their various programmes.

Interacting with visiting Ghanaian journalists in Beijing on Monday, Ms Wang said Ghana had a pride of place among China's development partners especially in Africa, stressing that her country would continue to render support to Ghana.

A team of eight Ghanaian journalists from DAILY GUIDE , Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, Business and Financial Times, Ghana Television and Metro TV is touring China under the auspices of the Chinese Embassy in Accra, in collaboration with its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tracing Ghana's relationship with China, which has grown stronger over the years, to 1960 when the two countries established diplomatic ties, Ms Wang said that the bond had been strengthened over the years that China saw Ghana as a major ally.

'Bilateral trade has increased by 15 times,' she said, pointing out that it hit an all time high of $2billion in 2010.

China has also provided support for infrastructural development including road construction, health and educational facilities.

It is on record that the China government built the LEKMA Hospital in Teshie, Accra for malaria research and the new Ministry of Defence building at Airport as well as the construction of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, building also at Airport which sod was recently cut by Vice President John Mahama.

Ms Wang also mentioned the MoU signed by the University of Ghana and some Chinese universities for collaboration in research and other areas as a fruit of the strong ties between the two countries.

A Chinese medical team is also in the country working at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to assist in providing healthcare at no cost to the Ghana government. The first team came to Ghana in 2009 and the second team is set to conclude its operations by the close of the year.

The top diplomat said about $4.5billion Chinese investments were injected into the Ghanaian economy in 2010, adding that her home government was encouraging local private companies to contribute to their host communities in the areas of corporate social responsibility.

She asked the visiting journalists to give an account of China to the outside world.

The journalists are touring some parts of the country after meeting state officials in Beijing to have a balanced view of development in China and how the issue of poverty alleviating is being addressed.

The Ghanaian team is currently in Yinchuan in the autonomous region of Ningxia where the journalists will be attending the opening ceremony of China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum.

The Ningxia region is occupied by some of China's minorities where it has the largest Muslim population of about 35 percent in the whole country. China is a non-religious country.

A Ghanaian investment delegation, led by Togbe Afede, the chief of Ho Asogli, is also attending the forum.

Togbe Afede has partnered some Chinese to establish Asogli power plant at Tema to generate electricity for the country.

From Fortune Alimi, Beijing, China