China’s Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has stated that the long-standing partnership between Ghana and China continued to grow as both sides worked to strengthen cooperation.
Speaking at the Ghana China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA) End-of-Year Soiree in Accra, he said the event also coincided with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of GHACHIFA.
He noted that Ghana and China entered the coming year with opportunities to build on existing progress.
“The two countries had benefited from decades of cooperation that began with the founding leaders of both nations,” he said.
He said Ghana was the second sub-Saharan African country to establish diplomatic relations with China and both nations continued to defend the interests of the Global South at the United Nations.
He added that China valued Ghana’s firm position on the one-China principle.
Mr Tong said GHACHIFA contributed to the stability of the relationship through its activities in culture, education and economic exchanges.
“China appreciated Ghana’s support and commitment to Pan-Africanism, which strengthened the foundation of the partnership,” he said.
Trade and investment
The ambassador said China remained Ghana’s largest trading partner and noted that bilateral trade reached US$11.8 billion in 2024.
He said thousands of Chinese companies operated in Ghana and contributed to job creation and industrial development.
He added that the Confucius Institutes in Ghana had trained more than 10,000 students, while Chinese medical teams continued to assist with healthcare delivery.
“The growth in trade and educational cooperation showed the depth of the relationship,” he said.
Mr Tong said President John Dramani Mahama’s visit to China in October deepened cooperation and led to agreements that would allow Ghana to benefit from zero-tariff treatment under a new framework for African partners.
He added that both governments had agreed in principle to the Early Harvest Arrangements under the Economic Partnership for Shared Development.
He said the next phase of cooperation would align with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which begins in 2026.
“The zero-tariff access would open new opportunities for Ghanaian exports,” he said.
Treaty of friendship
GHACHIFA General Secretary, Benjamin Anyagre, said the association remained committed to strengthening understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
He said GHACHIFA marked the 25th anniversary of the 1961 Treaty of Friendship despite challenges in 2025.
He added that the partnership survived because it was anchored in mutual benefit and shared goals.
“The relationship had endured because both nations worked with sincerity and purpose,” he said.
Mr Anyagre said cooperation produced major infrastructure projects involving transport, communications, logistics and industrial development.
He said education, sports, technology, tourism and cultural exchange also formed a major part of the partnership.
He added that youth forums, leadership dialogues and innovation programmes strengthened ties at the social level.
“These exchanges supported emerging leaders and promoted deeper understanding,” he said.
Plans
He said GHACHIFA would continue collaborating with the Chinese Embassy to support leadership training, women’s empowerment and youth innovation.
He said the association planned to expand cooperation in vocational training, trade union development and governance exchanges.
He noted that Ghana and China had made progress together over the decades and would continue advancing their partnership.
“Both countries had climbed many heights and would keep building forward,” he said.