China remains Ghana's largest trading partner and major source of foreign investment,the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana,Mr Tong Defa has stated.

He revealed that in 2024, the bilateral trade between the two countries reached an unprecedented high of US$11.8 billion, making a year-on-year growth of 7.1 per cent. 

Furthermore, he said hundreds of Chinese enterprises have invested in sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, aviation, green energy and even oil refinery, creating substantial employment while advancing local industrialisation.

The Chinese Ambassador stated these at a Media launch to mark 25 years of the Ghana-China Friendship Association(GHACHIFA) and 65 years of Ghana-China Friendship Treaty in Accra on Tuesday July 8,2025. An anniversary logo was unveiled as part of the event.

Mr Defa observed that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries enjoy many highlights. 

Interventions

He indicated that the Embassy has earnestly implemented a number of interventions including the Warm Children's Hearts, a China-African joint action, together with Chinese enterprises and United Nations agencies in Ghana.

China he added, has also established three Confucius Institutes in partnership with the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Coast, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, enabling over 10,000 Ghanaian students to study the Chinese language. 

“A Chinese language fever has swept campuses. The 14th Chinese medical team from Guangdong Province is providing health care services at China-Ghana Friendship Hospital, winning rave reviews from the local government and residents” he revealed.

Mahama's administration 

The Chinese Ambassador stated that the friendship continues to bear fruits under the new administration of President John Dramani Mahama stating that right after his inauguration, President Mahama first granted audience to Hao Mingjing, President Xi Jinping's special envoy, showcasing the special arrangement for Chinese delegation. 

He said President Mahama also attended the Lantern Festival Gala held by the Chinese community here in Ghana in February, sharing the joy with people from the two countries.

Mr Defa recalled that last month, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, led a delegation to China to attend the ministerial meeting of coordinators on the implementation of the follow-up actions of FOCOP under the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. 

“The two sides reached broad consensus on deepening cooperation across the board. During the meeting, China announced its decision to give zero tariff treatment for 100 per cent of the tariff lines to Ghana and other African countries, demonstrating the solidarity and friendship between our two countries” the Chinese Ambassador explained.

Mr Defa said two days ago, China signed a bilateral agreement of economic and technological cooperation with Ghana's Foreign Minister,Mr Ablakwa under which China will offer 200 million RMB Non-Reimbursable Assistance to Ghana. 

The Chinese Ambassador added that all these are vivid examples of the unity and friendship between China and Ghana. 

Historical accounts 

Giving historical antecedents of the China-Ghana friendship, the Chinese Ambassador stated that the friendship has taken root under the personal nurturing of old generations of leaders of the two countries.

“As many representatives mentioned, Ghana is one of the earliest countries in Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China. President Kwame Nkrumah once said, We face neither east nor west, we face forward. China has always adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace and opposes Cold War mentality and zero-sum games” Mr Defa observed.

He recalled that the friendship started long before 1964 when the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited Ghana.

“This friendship has thrived under the constant efforts of the successive governments of our two countries. Our political mutual trust continues to deepen. Ghana always firmly supports one China principle. China also supports Ghana's adherence to the Pan-African tradition” the Chinese Ambassador added.

In September 2024, Mr Defa said China and Ghana announced the elevation of their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership which chartered the course for the development of bilateral relations. 

“We have maintained close communication and coordination in multilateral areas such as the United Nations in jointly defending the common interests of the global South. Our economic bond keeps strengthening” he pointed out.

He described the year 2000 as a significant year when The Economist published a cover story on May 13, labeling Africa as the hopeless continent.

Mr Defa however said in the same year, China deepened friendship and cooperation with Africa and established the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation.

“It was also around that period that the former Ambassador of Ghana to China, Mr. Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, seized the trend of development of China-Ghana friendship and established GHACHIFA” he further reminisced.

GHACHIFA's activities 

The Chinese Ambassador said he was not oblivious of the fact that over the past 25 years, GHACHIFA, had been one of the most influential friendly organisations and an important force promoting China-Ghana friendship, has carried out many activities in the fields of economy, culture, education, and research, making valuable contributions to promoting bilateral friendship.

Mr Defa stated that in recent years, GHACHIFA has closely cooperated with the Embassy to hold many commemorative activities such as anniversaries of signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries and friendly sports competitions. 

He observed that GHACHIFA has also held many symposiums and media interviews on bilateral people-to-people exchanges and on One-China principle, actively facilitating cultural exchanges and practical cooperation. 

He paid glowing tribute to all those who in diverse ways contributed to the growth of the association including friends and the current National President and General Secretary of GHACHIFA.

Mr Defa observed that “this friendship has flourished under the meticulous care of GHACHIFA, over the past 25 years.”

Reception

Mr Defa announced that the Chinese Embassy will hold a reception in September to mark the 65th anniversary of the China-Ghana diplomatic relations.

He recalled that President Nkrumah’s saying “forward ever, backward never resonates with the case of China-Ghana friendship.

He expressed the hope that the two countries will “continuously enrich the connotations of China-Ghana strategic partnership and jointly begin a new historical chapter of our friendly cooperation in the new era.”