Communication | 'Ghana regards China as an important partner' - China's experience helps Ghana's development process

Accra, October 18 (Xinhua) -- "Ghana regards China as an important partner for cooperation" - China's experience helps Ghana's development process

Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jianfei and Tian Sha

When I first started participating in hydropower projects, the surrounding areas were very short of electricity, and power outages were commonplace. But now, the lives of the local people have greatly improved, "Oscar, who participated in the construction of Ghana's Bouvet hydropower station, told reporters in the capital Accra recently.

The Buwei Hydropower Station is constructed by China Hydropower Construction Group International Engineering Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Electric Power Construction Corporation. It is located on the Black Volta River, with a total installed capacity of 404 megawatts and an annual power generation capacity of up to 1 billion kilowatt hours. After being delivered and put into use in 2014, the hydropower station not only effectively alleviated the power shortage in Ghana, but also played a role in irrigation, agricultural planting, fishery development, and tourism, effectively promoting the economic development of Ghana and even West Africa.

According to Chen Zhenrong, a representative of the Chinese construction unit, the comprehensive implementation of labor localization during the project construction process has created nearly 6000 job opportunities for the local area, trained a group of excellent engineers, as well as operation and management talents. At the same time, some materials required for the project construction are purchased locally, which has also driven local economic development.

In addition to the Bouvet Hydroelectric Power Station, Ghana also has multiple projects undertaken or assisted by China, including the Ghana National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs office building, the Tamali Overpass, and the Huocheng Medical University.

China plays a crucial and visible role in the development process of Ghana and even Africa. In addition to financial support, China also shares knowledge, skills, and experience in manufacturing, green energy, and other fields, which are profoundly influencing Africa's path towards modernization and self-reliance, "said Paul Flinepong, Executive Director of the Ghana Think Tank Africa China Policy Advisory Center.

China has long been Ghana's largest trading partner and major source of foreign investment. Hundreds of Chinese companies have invested and developed in Ghana, covering infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, aviation, green energy, petrochemicals, and other fields, creating tens of thousands of job opportunities for the local area. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and Canada reached a historic high of 11.8 billion US dollars.

Ghana regards China as an important partner for cooperation, "Ghanaian President Mahama said in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency." We cherish our solidarity and friendship with China, and believe that after 65 years of accumulation, our cooperation will reach a higher level

The reporter walked on the streets of Accra and could hear friendly greetings from local people everywhere. Street vendors also spoke one or two simple Chinese sentences. In recent years, the enthusiasm of Ghanaian people for learning Chinese has become increasingly high.

Since May 2013, Ghana has established three Confucius Institutes at the University of Ghana, Cape Coast University, and Nkrumah University of Technology, providing Chinese language instruction to over 150000 students. In recent years, more and more students from Ghana have applied for Chinese majors, and the number of people spontaneously studying Chinese at Confucius Institutes has also increased. The number of students studying in China ranks among the top in African countries.

Flinepong stated that in recent years, people to people exchanges between Ghana and China have become closer than ever before. Many Ghanaians are studying, working, and doing business in China, while an increasing number of Chinese are collaborating with Ghana through trade, cultural, and community projects. These daily interactions have enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and Canada China friendship is not only reflected at the government level, but also in the genuine connection between the two peoples

Source: Xinhua News Agency