Ghana, China renew commitment to stronger trade and development ties

Ghana and China have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, with trade, investment, industrialisation and development cooperation identified as key areas of focus.

The renewed commitment was expressed at a reception in Accra to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Cong Song, said the longstanding relationship between the 2 countries had entered a new phase, with both sides seeking to better align their development strategies and create practical opportunities for their citizens.

He said diplomatic relations between Ghana and China, established in 1960, were rooted in the friendship between Chairman Mao Zedong and Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

According to Ambassador Cong, the 2 countries had, over the past 66 years, supported each other and worked together to advance their shared interests as well as those of the Global South.

He said the partnership had further deepened under President Xi Jinping of China and President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, particularly following President Mahama's engagements with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang during his 2025 visit to China.

Economic and trade cooperation, he said, remained a major pillar of the relationship, with China continuing to serve as Ghana's largest trading partner and an important source of foreign investment.

“In 2025, our bilateral trade reached a record 14.1 billion US dollars, reflecting a 19.3 per cent year-on-year growth,” he said.

Ambassador Cong said hundreds of Chinese companies and members of the Chinese community in Ghana were involved in sectors including infrastructure, energy, mining, manufacturing, the digital economy and green agriculture.

He also highlighted China's zero-tariff treatment for Ghana and other African countries, saying the arrangement presented opportunities to expand exports and support industrialisation.

According to him, Ghanaian businesses could take advantage of China's large domestic market, while China remained committed to advancing China-aided projects in Ghana.

People-to-people exchanges, he added, remained an important part of the relationship, citing the work of the Confucius Institutes, Chinese medical teams and cultural initiatives such as the Chinese Film Festival.

Ambassador Cong said China would continue to work with Ghana and other African countries in areas including development, education, culture and economic transformation.

He described the coming year as significant for Ghana-China and China-Africa relations, with Ghana expected to celebrate its 70th independence anniversary and assume the rotating chairmanship of the African Union in 2027.

He also noted that the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was expected to take place in the Republic of Congo next year.

“China will continue to jointly implement the important consensus reached by our two Presidents, carry forward the traditional friendship between our two countries, and advance the alignment of our development strategies,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of President Mahama, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, said Ghana valued its longstanding partnership with China and was committed to strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.

She said China's development experience offered lessons for Ghana and other developing countries, particularly its long-term approach to development, investment in productive capacity and ability to translate national priorities into tangible results.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said bilateral cooperation covered infrastructure, trade, investment, education, health, agriculture, energy, security, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

She said recent engagements between President Mahama and China's leadership had provided fresh direction for bilateral cooperation and reinforced the commitment of both countries to deepen their partnership.

The Minister said Ghana was particularly interested in attracting more investment, strengthening connections between businesses in both countries and increasing the presence of Ghanaian products on the Chinese market.

She said China's decision to extend zero-tariff treatment to African countries with diplomatic relations with China presented an opportunity for Ghanaian farmers, manufacturers and businesses.

Ghana, she added, would have to increase production, improve standards and ensure reliable supply to fully take advantage of opportunities in the Chinese market.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also cited the Aflao Market Project, the proposed University of Science and Technology in Damongo and the renovation of the National Theatre as bilateral projects requiring continued cooperation.

She said Ghana looked forward to working with the Chinese side to advance the projects and ensure that their benefits reached the communities they were intended to serve.

The Minister stressed that development partnerships and investments must comply with Ghana's laws, regulatory frameworks and national priorities.

“All development and investment must be undertaken in accordance with Ghana's laws, regulatory frameworks and national priorities,” she said.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings further said Ghana's position as host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) created significant opportunities for cooperation with China in promoting investment, productive capacity and value addition across Africa.

She said stronger Ghana-China cooperation could support regional value chains and create opportunities that extend beyond individual national markets.

The reception, held at the residence of Ambassador Cong, was attended by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Ministers of State, government officials, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, Chinese business leaders and members of the Chinese community in Ghana.

The event also featured cultural performances by students of the Confucius Institutes at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana.