ECONOMIC TRADE AND INVESTMENTS
Trade between Ghana and China has consistently improved over the years hitting a record high of 7.5 billion US dollars. Imports from China generally accounted for increase in both volume and value of trade between the two countries China is Ghana’s largest trading partner globally and Ghana is the 7th trading partner of China in Africa.
EDUCATION
Education is an important tool for a country’s development and Ghana has unveiled an ambitious education policy to address issues of access, equity and quality in education called “Free Senior High School” policy. The issue relating to access, equity and quality in education can best be addressed through technology. Ghana intends cooperating with China to bring innovation and technology to our schools and in vocational training institutes with a view to be competitive globally.
Through scholarships (financially supported partially by Government of Ghana,) China has provided academic opportunities to various Ghanaian students in Chinese Universities. Records indicate that there are about 4000 Ghanaian students (comprising self-sponsored and those on scholarships) studying in China.
Ghana–China relations
Ghana and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations on 5th July, 1960. On 23rd August, 1961, Ghana and China signed the Friendship Treaty which affirmed the close bilateral ties between the two countries and established the foundation for practical cooperation as well as the emergence of Afro-Asia solidarity that became strategic in the prosecution of the decolonization, peace and development agenda of small developing countries at the time.
The Friendship Treaty was also aimed at creating a model for mutual economic, social and political development as well as to contribute towards the stability of Ghana and, by extension, other newly independent African countries.
Ghana’s active co-operation with China also reflects the consistency with which it had followed the “One China Two Systems” policy by China with respect to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Ghana also fully supported the People’s Republic of China to retain its United Nations seat in 1971.
Under Ex-President Nkrumah, Ghana enjoyed close friendly relations and active political cooperation with China. The relations were marked by frequent exchanges of high-level visits. Dr. Nkrumah personally paid three visits to China in 1961, 1964 and 1966. During these visits, he established personal friendships with former Chinese leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou En-Lai.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings also paid a state visit to China in December, 1995 as part of a three-nation tour to the Far East and held discussions with senior Chinese Government officials, including the former President Jiang Zemin.
Former President J.A. Kufuor also paid a week-long state visit to China from 27th October to 3rd November, 2003, as part of a two-nation tour of the Far East. During the visit, he held fruitful discussions with former President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Zhu Rongi. Former President J.A. Kufuor, again in November 2006, led a delegation to participate in that year’s Sino-Africa Summit.
The then President John Evans Atta Mills, also paid a state visit to China from 19th to 24th September 2010. This successful visit led to the conclusion of an agreement for China to give Ghana a US$3 billion loan facility to cover essential projects and for infrastructural development. A Master Facility Agreement under which the China Development Bank would finance infrastructural development projects was also signed. In 2012, the then Vice president John Dramani Mahama visited China to witness the signing of CDB Master Facility Agreement.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from June 19th -24th, 2017. The visit, which was at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, H.E. Li Yuanchao was the first by a sitting Ghanaian Vice President in 7 years.
His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana paid a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China on August 31st, 2018 and subsequently participated in the 3rd Summit of FOCAC from 3rd to 4th September, 2018. His visit, coming on the heels of other high-level visits, notably by H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and other Ministers. These visits no doubts, reflects the robust and exemplary relations between Ghana and China since the presidency of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In trade, commerce and investment, China is Ghana’s largest trading partner and investor whilst Ghana is seventh largest trading partner of China in Africa.
China has, through the various facilities within the framework of the Belt and Road Cooperation and the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation, been a major developmental partner of Ghana in her quest for infrastructural development.
Ghana and China marked the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations on 5th July, 2020 with the exchange of congratulatory messages at the highest level by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President Xi Jinping. Foreign Ministers Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and State Counsellor Wang Yi also exchanged notes. A virtual symposium organised to climax the celebration was graced by the Vice President H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
