The Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye has called for the need for Ghana and China to find new avenues for economic cooperation to further strengthen commercial partnership between the two countries. Asenso-Boakye said the commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), presents the best opportunity for more Chinese investors to increase their investment engagements in Africa using Ghana as a gateway.
Ghana-China bilateral relations, which date back to the 1960s and were spearheaded by the founding fathers, Chairman MAO Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, and Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, have culminated into a number of collaborative initiatives between the two countries.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Ghana on the occasion of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China yesterday in Accra, the Minister for Works and Housing stated that although trade between the two countries remains stellar, with trade volume between the two countries in 2022 registering a phenomenal $10.2 billion, there is still the need for balanced trade and investment between the two countries.
“The development of an even stronger community, through people-to-people interactions based on the principles of sincerity, affinity, mutual trust and respect will yield real results and common prosperity for our peoples in this post-COVID-19 era.” The Minister noted.
To further strengthen the ties between Ghana and China, Asenso-Boakye indicated that the Government will continue to commit to creating an enabling environment with the appropriate legal and incentive regimes to boost the activities of Chinese businesses operating.
The Minister cited the recent opening of the China Visa Application Centre in Accra as a testament to the Government’s commitment that will go a long way to addressing the difficulties faced by Ghanaian applicants, especially businessmen, to acquire express visas to China for various purposes, adding that Chinese nationals can equally access the consular services offered by the Ghana Embassy in Beijing to promote mutually beneficial business interests between the two countries.
In his remarks to mark the occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Lu Kun, said China and Ghana have always supported each other and worked in solidarity, to safeguard the shared interests of the two countries and the Global South.
The Ambassador was optimistic that relations between the two countries will continue to deepen even in the face of regional and international challenges, adding that such a partnership will surely “bring prosperity among the two countries.”