Ghana and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on trade, investment, industrialisation, and development cooperation. The commitment was expressed at a reception in Accra to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Cong Song, said the longstanding partnership had entered a new phase, with greater emphasis on aligning the development strategies of the two countries and creating practical opportunities for their peoples.
Diplomatic relations between Ghana and China were established in 1960, founded on the friendship between Chairman Mao Zedong and Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Mr Cong said China and Ghana had, over the past 66 years, supported each other and worked in solidarity to advance their shared interests and those of the Global South. The partnership has continued to deepen under President Xi Jinping of China and President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.
Economic and trade cooperation remains a major pillar of bilateral relations, with China continuing to be Ghana’s largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment. In 2025, bilateral trade reached a record 14.1 billion US dollars, reflecting a 19.3 per cent year-on-year growth. Hundreds of Chinese enterprises and members of the Chinese community in Ghana are contributing to infrastructure, energy, mining, manufacturing, the digital economy, and green agriculture.
Ghana was among the first African countries to benefit from China’s zero-tariff treatment, which created opportunities for African countries to expand exports and strengthen industrialisation. Mr Cong said China’s domestic market offered opportunities for Ghanaian businesses, while China remained committed to advancing China-aided projects in Ghana. He also cited people-to-people exchanges as an important component of the relationship, highlighting the work of the Confucius Institutes, Chinese medical teams, and cultural initiatives such as the Chinese Film Festival.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, who represented President Mahama, said Ghana valued its longstanding partnership with China and remained 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.
Ghana-China cooperation covers infrastructure, trade, investment, education, health, agriculture, energy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said recent engagements between President Mahama and the Chinese leadership had provided fresh direction for bilateral cooperation and reinforced the two countries’ shared desire to deepen the partnership. The Minister said Ghana was particularly interested in attracting greater investment, strengthening links between the two countries’ business communities, and increasing the presence of Ghanaian products in the Chinese market.
The reception, held at the residence of Ambassador Cong, brought together Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, Ministers of State, government officials, Members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, Chinese business leaders, and members of the Chinese community in Ghana. It 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.
Key points
- China and Ghana have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, focusing on trade, investment, industrialisation, and development cooperation.
- The partnership has continued to deepen under President Xi Jinping of China and President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.
- Ghana-China cooperation covers infrastructure, trade, investment, education, health, agriculture, energy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
