China gives $66 million grant to Ghana

China and Ghana have agreed to a grant totaling $66 million for projects including the construction of a fishing port complex and the expansion of a university.

The Jamestown Fishing Port Complex will use $50 million of the grant from China, while $16 million will go toward constructing the second phase of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, as well as other projects.

On April 6, the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, signed the agreement on behalf of China, while Ken Ofori-Atta, minister of finance and economic planning, and Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, minister of fisheries and aquaculture development, signed for Ghana.

The ceremony was also used as an opportunity to bid farewell to Sun, whose term in Ghana ends on April 16. She said the bilateral agreement is expected to lead to more fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

"China's aid to Ghana does not have any political strings. It is for development, and we fully support the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. We hope it will be realized with the help of foreign partners," she said.

Economic and trade cooperation between China and Ghana has reached $6.67 billion and ranks sixth among the 54 African countries.

China's exports to Ghana reached about $5.17 billion in the past year, with its investments in the country totaling $123 million, while Ghana's exports to China showed an increase of 41 percent over the previous year, amounting to more than $1.5 billion.

Sun said China's support for upgrading polytechnic universities was aimed at preparing the country for industrialization.

She said the Chinese government would also establish a cocoa processing company in Sefwi-Wiawso, a district in western Ghana, to support the country's industrialization drive.

Ofori-Atta said the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex project will enhance productivity in the industry and create around 100 jobs for young people in the fishing community.

The project will be done in three parts: dredging the harbor basin and shipping channels; building hydraulic structures; and constructing administration, production and other facilities such as an office building, a kindergarten, a trading market and a processing area.

Ofori-Atta said the signing marked an important milestone in relations between Ghana and China because it affirmed the commitment and determination of the two countries to broaden and deepen cooperation.

He said Ghana's government was working hard to ensure the macroeconomic stability necessary for creating the right environment for fast economic growth so that Ghana can wean itself fromforeign aid.

He thanked the Chinese government for its continued support and said: "There is the need for a critical mass of resources to push the economy beyond aid."

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 04/13/2018 page3)