The bilateral trade volume of Ghana and China last year hit US$7.46billion, making China Ghana’s largest trading partner, the biggest source of foreign investment and the biggest provider of human resource training. Ghana now is the 7th-largest trading partner of China in Africa.
Until 2019, more than 6,500 Ghanaian students studied in China and was ranked 2nd in the sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. ZHU Jing, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Accra, said this at the launch of Commemorative Stamps for the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ghana.
He said in the past 60 years, China-Ghana relations have grown from strength to strength under the strong leadership of successive leaders of our two countries.
We are pleased to see close high-level exchange in recent years, particularly the state visit to China by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in September 2018, and the successful visit to Ghana by Vice Premier Sun Chunlan of China in November 2019.
“The Chinese Embassy and Ghana Post have successfully co-designed and printed 10,000 sets of commemorative stamps as one of the serial celebrations for the anniversary,” Mr. Jing said.
He said besides the big stamp there are four smaller stamps, each featured with the most symbolic development cooperation projects between China and Ghana over the past decade.
The first one is the Cape Coast Stadium. It used to be the biggest grant project by the Chinese government in Ghana, with a contract amount of US$33million. Completed by January 2016 with facilities of 16,000 seats, 8 running tracks and a natural grass football yard, it has become one of the sporting landmarks in Ghana.
The second one features the Bui Hydroelectric Project. It’s one of the largest energy projects in the history of the Republic of Ghana, producing 15%-20% of Ghana’s electricity and supported by a Chinese preferential loan.
He further said the third picture is the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project. Though not as well-known as the stadium, it has been one of the major providers of clean water for the Greater Accra Region – also supported by a Chinese preferential loan.
And last but not least, the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS). It is a grant project with the first phase completed in 2015 and the second phase expected to take three times longer than the first phase started last year. “We aim to build it into one of the most beautiful and modern universities in Ghana.”
“China over the years has devoted a lot in human resource development cooperation with Ghana. Every year, the Chinese government provides Ghanaians around one thousand fully-sponsored training opportunities in China, which we believe will further enhance mutual understanding and deepen our friendship.”
