Chinese Community Reaffirms Commitment to Deepen Ghana–China Cooperation
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Chinese community in Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen collaboration with Ghanaian partners as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries. The pledge was made during a press engagement organised by the Ghana–China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA) on December 10 at the Tang Palace Hotel in Accra.
The event was attended by H.E. Tong Defa, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, who highlighted key outcomes from the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as President John Mahama’s recent visit to China. He also discussed Ghana’s zero-tariff treatment on exports to China and expressed strong support for GHACHIFA’s plans to jointly celebrate the 2026 “China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.”
Ambassador Tong expressed optimism about the future of Ghana–China relations, asserting that bilateral ties would continue to flourish under the current leadership. He commended GHACHIFA for promoting friendship and people-to-people relations between the two nations, stressing the importance of joint efforts in education, cultural exchanges, and investment dialogues.
Figures shared during the briefing showed that bilateral trade between Ghana and China reached $11.8 billion in 2024, representing a 7.1% year-on-year growth. China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner and a key source of foreign investment. The Ambassador also reaffirmed China’s commitment to high-standard opening-up and to creating mutually beneficial cooperation across strategic sectors, including trade, infrastructure, and technology.
Former Ghanaian Ambassador to China and GHACHIFA Co-Chairman, Anani Demuyakor, encouraged Ghanaian exporters to leverage China’s zero-tariff policy, which provides duty-free access to Chinese markets for nearly all taxable products from African countries. He highlighted opportunities for agricultural exports, particularly in value-added processing, which could boost Ghana’s export earnings.
Deputy Chairman of GHACHIFA, Tang Hong, described Ghana as a second home for the Chinese community and outlined humanitarian and development initiatives undertaken over recent years. These included providing over one million cedis in support for displaced persons, interventions in health programs such as Minimally Invasive Surgery initiatives, and support for national initiatives including Ghana’s gun amnesty programs.
Looking ahead, GHACHIFA plans to intensify its activities in 2026, focusing on cultural and educational exchanges, business and investment dialogues, and youth- and women-led initiatives, which are expected to further strengthen the spirit of Africa–China friendship. Participants also highlighted the growing demand for African products in China, including coffee and cocoa, presenting further opportunities for Ghana’s agricultural sector.
With thousands of Chinese enterprises operating across sectors including manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and services, the Chinese community continues to contribute significantly to job creation and Ghana’s industrialisation drive, reinforcing decades of diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two nations.
