Ghana and China seek stronger economic partnership

BY; Regina Bless

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has opened the Fifth Session of the Ghana–China Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, with a call for deeper economic collaboration between the two countries.

Dr Forson said Ghana’s relationship with China should increasingly focus on expanding local production, processing, manufacturing and employment opportunities.

While acknowledging China as Ghana’s largest trading partner, the Finance Minister stressed the need to improve the structure of bilateral trade by increasing the share of value-added products exported from Ghana.

He said Ghana is particularly interested in expanding the processing of cocoa and other commodities before export. The country also wants to attract Chinese investments that establish factories, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen local enterprises and provide skills and training for Ghanaian workers.

China’s Assistant Minister for Commerce, Zhang Li, commended Ghana for the progress made in stabilising its economy and expressed China’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation.

Zhang also indicated China’s readiness to support Ghana’s Big Push Programme, which seeks to accelerate investment and development across key sectors of the economy.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Chief Director Patrick Nomo and Director of External Resources Mobilisation Isaac Fraikue.

The Fifth Session is expected to provide a platform for both countries to deepen economic, trade and technical cooperation while identifying opportunities that can deliver greater benefits to their respective economies.