President John Dramani Mahama has lauded the Ghana-China relations and stated that the cooperation has resulted in transformation projects for the former.
“For us in Ghana we look forward to further collaboration leading to increased Chinese involvement, especially in the creation of light industries, and eventually, the manufacture of made-in-Ghana products with Chinese technology and expertise.”
President Mahama was addressing the Second Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg, South Africa, which ended last Saturday.
The summit, held on the theme: “China-Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development,” was attended by 50 African heads of state and government delegations and their Chinese counterparts.
Ghana-China Cooperation
President Mahama mentioned the Ghana Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo in the Western Region, which currently supplies 100 million standard cubic feet of gas to thermal generating projects that produce more than 700 megawatts of power, as well as the 400 megawatts capacity Bui Dam as a result of China’s assistance.
Other projects that China and Ghana have executed together cover the areas of water supply, rural electrification, sports stadia, university education, agriculture and the construction of modern markets.
President Mahama said already a private venture in aviation, represented by Africa World Airlines, had started in the country while other investments in the light industry and manufacturing had begun to spring up.
China-Africa cooperation
Touching on China-Africa cooperation, President Mahama said the next level of cooperation between China and the continent must be reflected by a deep involvement of the private sector.
“Joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and other forms of collaboration involving our private sectors will establish stronger and more sustainable platform for our partnership,” he stated.
He described the $60 billion funding support for Africa, announced by the Chinese President, Mr Xi Jinping, during the summit, as a comprehensive and well-thought-out plan.
The 10 cooperation plans outlined by President Xi under the $60 billion package cover the most critical areas of Africa’s development, including industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, trade and investment, poverty eradication and public health and infrastructural development.
President Mahama said Africa had the fastest-growing population in the world today while it was also the youngest continent with almost 60 per cent of its population under 35.
He said it was, therefore, necessary to stimulate growth in manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture and agro-processing in order to create an exponential increase in jobs to absorb those teeming young people.
