President John Dramani Mahama has described China’s unprecedented economic transformation as one of the most remarkable stories in modern history and expressed Ghana’s determination to learn from the East Asian giant as it charts a new path toward national renewal and inclusive development.
Speaking at the Presidential Investment Forum held in Beijing as part of his state visit to the People’s Republic of China, President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening economic and strategic cooperation with China.
He emphasized that Ghana’s ongoing transformation is anchored in the same principles of innovation, discipline, and visionary leadership that powered China’s rise.
“This visit is more than a diplomatic engagement. It is an affirmation of our enduring friendship and a renewal of our shared vision, a vision of growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.
“Although our nations lie on different continents, Ghana and China are bound by history, by solidarity, and a common conviction that progress is most meaningful when it uplifts all our people.”
President John Dramani Mahama
According to him, Ghana has entered a defining moment in its national journey, one shaped by his administration’s Reset Agenda and the flagship 24-hour economy vision, aimed at rebuilding the foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth.
“Under our Reset Agenda and our 24-hour economy vision, we are rebuilding the foundations for inclusive growth. And we do so in the firm belief that sustainable development is best achieved through strong and mutually beneficial partnerships — partnerships such as the one that exists between China and Ghana”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Ghana-China Long-Standing Relations
He highlighted the long-standing diplomatic relationship between the two nations, recalling that Ghana was among the first sub-Saharan African countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Over the past six decades, that relationship, he said, has matured into a partnership “rooted in friendship, trust, and strategic cooperation.”
This year, 2025, marks 65 years of Ghana-China diplomatic relations, a milestone that, in the President’s words, “celebrates not only the endurance of our relationship but its purpose.” He expressed satisfaction that the partnership continues to yield tangible results across multiple sectors, including trade, energy, infrastructure, and industrialization.
Citing trade statistics, President Mahama revealed that China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $11.8 billion in 2024. Between 2020 and 2024, he said, China’s exports to Ghana increased by nearly 46 percent, while Ghana’s exports to China grew by over 11 percent, reflecting the deepening economic ties between the two nations.
He further announced that both governments had reached an agreement in principle to grant zero-tariff access for Ghanaian and African products to the Chinese market, targeting the end of October 2025 for the formal signing of the agreement.
President Mahama praised this initiative as an act of solidarity by the Chinese government, noting that it would significantly open new markets for Ghanaian exporters, agro-processors, and manufacturers.
“I wish to commend the Government of China for this act of solidarity. We are all aware that the multilateral rules-based trading system is being upended by unilateral slapping of tariffs on different countries. This is a time for us to solidarize and come together, and this initiative by China is very timely”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Beyond Trade
Beyond trade, President Mahama emphasized the critical role of Chinese cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in advancing Ghana’s infrastructure, industrial base, and energy development.
Between 2013 and 2024, Chinese investments recorded by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) are projected to total $3.9 billion, covering over 400 projects and creating thousands of jobs for Ghanaian youth.
He credited Chinese partnerships for advancing technology transfer, industrialization, and skills development in Ghana, describing these collaborations as essential to his administration’s broader development agenda.
President Mahama devoted a significant part of his address to acknowledging the magnitude of China’s transformation, calling it a source of inspiration for developing economies like Ghana.
“China’s transformation over the past four decades is one of the most remarkable stories in modern history. China has succeeded in lifting the greatest number of people out of poverty in the shortest possible time recorded in the history of the world.
“This is a story of innovation, discipline, and visionary leadership. From rural reform to global industrial power, China has demonstrated what is possible when national purpose aligns with long-term planning.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Ghana at a Pivotal Juncture
The President emphasized that Ghana, too, is at a pivotal point in its development trajectory, determined to industrialize its economy, expand value-added exports, and empower its citizens through technology and enterprise.
“Our Reset Agenda is rooted in the conviction that every Ghanaian must have a stake in our national prosperity.” He extended an open invitation to Chinese investors and entrepreneurs to partner with Ghana in this new phase of transformation, assuring them of a safe, predictable, and transparent investment environment.
“Ghana guarantees the security of your capital and your profits. Under our Constitution and the Ghana Investment Promotion Center Act, expropriation of investment is banned. Investors enjoy unrestricted repatriation of their dividends and proceeds in the convertible currency of their choice.”
President John Dramani Mahama
He further noted that Ghana’s investment laws protect businesses against discrimination, expropriation, and nationalization in line with international best practices.
Ghana’s membership in the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and its status as a signatory to the New York Convention, he said, provide additional safeguards for foreign investors through transparent international arbitration mechanisms.
President Mahama assured his audience that Ghana’s political stability — sustained through more than 30 years of uninterrupted democracy — remains the strongest guarantee of investor confidence.
Concluding his remarks, President Mahama reiterated that Ghana’s transformation agenda mirrors China’s example of visionary leadership and strategic planning. He called for a renewed spirit of cooperation between the two nations, envisioning a partnership that accelerates technology transfer, expands trade, and drives industrial growth.
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