Ambassador-designate of China to Ghana, Cong Song has presented his Open Letters to the Chief Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khadija Iddrisu, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Monday, March 30, 2026, as he prepares to formally commence his diplomatic tenure in Ghana.
Ambassador-designate Cong Song succeeds Tong Defa, who concluded his tenure in January 2026 after serving as Head of the Embassy of China in Ghana since August 2024.
Prior to the presentation, Ambassador-designate Cong Song arrived in Ghana on March 15, where he was received at the airport by representatives of the Ghanaian government, including Deputy Chief of Protocol Frederick Mintah-Agyemang and Deputy Director of the Asia and Pacific Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francis Yaw Opoku.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu congratulated Ambassador-designate Cong Song on his appointment and welcomed him to Ghana, highlighting the steady growth in bilateral cooperation between Ghana and China, particularly in trade, infrastructure development, and capacity-building initiatives.
She also commended China for voting in favour of the United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring the Transatlantic Slave Trade the gravest crime against humanity. The resolution secured 123 votes in favour, with Israel, Argentina, and the United States voting against, while 52 member states abstained.
Ambassador-designate Cong Song expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and China. He highlighted the steady growth in trade between the two countries, as well as the increasing presence of Chinese enterprises, educational exchanges, and development cooperation initiatives in Ghana.
He further indicated China’s support for the government’s Reset Agenda, noting that the Chinese Embassy would work closely with Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advance practical cooperation and deepen bilateral engagement.
Former Ambassador, Ambassador Tong Defa won the commendation of President John Dramani Mahama for advancing Ghana-China relations during his tenure. The President noted that Ambassador Tong played a key role in expediting Ghana’s efforts to secure membership in the International Organization for Mediation, which has received Cabinet approval and is awaiting ratification by Parliament. He also successfully negotiated a zero-tariff regime with China, a development expected to expand Ghanaian exports and deepen trade relations.
Under Ambassador Tong’s tenure, scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students increased significantly, enabling more students to study in China and gain exposure to Chinese language, culture, and technical expertise. Multi-sectoral cooperation also expanded across trade, infrastructure, education, and governance.
Ambassador Tong further supported joint initiatives to combat illegal mining, including collaboration on visa controls and public education campaigns in China. He also promoted initiatives such as the Constituency Smart School Projects, contributing to Ghana’s human capital development.
Trade remains a cornerstone of Ghana-China relations, with China consistently ranking as Ghana’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade volumes have reached approximately $11 billion, reflecting the scale of economic interdependence between the two countries. Ghana’s exports have also benefited from China’s zero-tariff treatment for a wide range of African goods, a policy expected to expand market access and diversify Ghana’s export base.
Chinese-backed infrastructure projects have also significantly transformed Ghana’s development landscape. These include the Bui Dam, which expanded national power generation capacity; Terminal 3 Kotoka International Airport, which strengthened Ghana’s aviation infrastructure; and the Pokuase Interchange, one of the country’s major urban transport projects.
Other notable projects include the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, the Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment, as well as road networks, railway modernization initiatives, and telecommunications infrastructure, further reinforcing Ghana’s industrial and economic development.
The presentation of Open Letters by Ambassador-designate Cong Song marks the beginning of a new phase in Ghana–China diplomatic relations, with expectations of deepened cooperation across trade, infrastructure, education, and strategic development initiatives.
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