President John Dramani Mahama has received the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Tong Defa, praising him for deepening the long-standing bilateral relations between Ghana and China.
During the farewell meeting, President Mahama described Ambassador Tong as more than a diplomat, noting that he had become a close friend of Ghana.
“You haven’t just been an ambassador or diplomat; you have been a friend, and I am sad to see you go. Of course, our relations with China are excellent,” the President said.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for China’s role in Ghana’s debt restructuring negotiations and for its continued support for the country’s development efforts. He cited a US$30 million grant for the Aflao Market Project and another US$30 million allocated for the construction of a new Science and Technology University in Damango.
The President called for enhanced cooperation between Ghana and China, particularly in logistics, security, and capacity building.
“We want to see greater cooperation with China in logistics, training in anti-terrorism, and the building of surveillance along our borders to ensure there is no infiltration,” he stated.
President Mahama also proposed the establishment of a payment and settlement system between the two countries to facilitate trade and strengthen economic ties.
In his remarks, Ambassador Tong congratulated President Mahama on the achievements recorded in the first year of his tenure, especially the improvements in Ghana’s economic fortunes. He called for deeper collaboration in key areas including industry, trade, mining, and science and technology.
The outgoing envoy revealed that China’s zero-tariff arrangement for Ghanaian exports would soon be operationalised. He also appealed to President Mahama for Ghana’s support for China’s bid to host the Secretariat of the new United Nations treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.
