China stands as the foremost trading ally of Ghana, a fact that underscores the significance of their ongoing partnership. Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador in Ghana, has reiterated China's dedication to enhancing the long-established strategic collaboration between the two nations, highlighting 2025 as a pivotal year for their relationship.
He pointed out that 2025 will mark several important milestones: it will be the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Ghana, the 25th anniversary of the Ghana–China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), the commencement of President John Dramani Mahama's new term in office, and it coincides with the conclusion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
Ambassador Tong shared these insights during the GHACHIFA End-of-Year Soiree in Accra, which took place under the theme: "2026 Ghana–China Year of People-to-People Exchanges."
He emphasized that these significant developments have fostered deeper cooperation and yielded fruitful outcomes across various sectors. The enduring friendship between China and Ghana, established by visionary leaders such as Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, remains robust and continues to advance the collective interests of countries within the Global South.
The Ambassador praised GHACHIFA for its remarkable 25 years of proactive engagement in strengthening bilateral ties through economic, cultural, and educational initiatives, public seminars, and community events.
He affirmed that China is still Ghana's largest trading partner and a key source of investment. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached an impressive $11.8 billion, marking a 7.1% increase from the previous year. Thousands of Chinese enterprises operate within Ghana, significantly contributing to job creation and industrial growth.
Tong noted that the cooperation between the two nations reached new heights following President Mahama's official visit to China in October 2025, during which he engaged in discussions with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. "Both parties reached an agreement on a development blueprint and established consensus on the Early Harvest Arrangements as part of the Economic Partnership for Shared Development," he explained.
Additionally, he mentioned that Ghana is set to be among the first African nations to benefit from China's zero-tariff policy that encompasses all tariff lines.
Benjamin Anyagre, the General Secretary of GHACHIFA, expressed that Ghana’s strong partnership with China is founded on mutual trust, shared principles, and a collective vision for progress. He acknowledged that while 2025 poses certain challenges, GHACHIFA has shown resilience by effectively launching various activities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Ghana and China.
Anyagre further elaborated that the collaboration between Ghana and China has evolved into a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, resulting in substantial advancements in infrastructure projects—ranging from transportation networks and modern communication systems to industrial parks, logistics hubs, railways, ports, and information technology infrastructure.
He highlighted that this bilateral cooperation extends beyond infrastructure to include education, culture, tourism, sports, science and technology, green development, and social welfare initiatives. Programs such as the Ghana–China Youth Cultural Forum, Future Leaders’ Dialogue, innovation competitions, youth collaborative spaces, and student exchange programs have provided Ghanaian youth, women, media professionals, and researchers with valuable insights into China while opening up new opportunities.
Cultural exchanges remain a vital aspect of their partnership, fostering mutual understanding through tourism, film, publishing, sports, and the creative arts. "This collaboration also addresses health issues, poverty alleviation, public welfare, disability inclusion, and the enhancement of sister-city relationships," he added.
Anyagre proposed the establishment of a Ghana–China Cooperation and Development Forum aimed at spearheading initiatives like Ghanaian Female Leadership Training, Women’s Entrepreneurship and Empowerment programs, and Youth Innovation schemes.
Tang Hong, President of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies, emphasized the deep-rooted and historic ties between Ghana and China, characterizing 2025 as a milestone year in their enduring partnership. He recalled that Chinese communities began settling in Ghana as far back as the 1940s and praised Ghana for its support in reinstating China’s membership in the United Nations.
He stressed the importance of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies and GHACHIFA in fostering people-to-people interactions through cultural dialogues, business forums, and youth initiatives. Tang reiterated that the friendship shared by both nations extends beyond diplomatic relations and is deeply ingrained within local communities.
Furthermore, he recounted the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the Chinese community in response to various challenges faced in Ghana.
