The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, has reaffirmed China’s readiness to support the government’s development agenda, including initiatives such as the Big Push infrastructure programme and the proposed 24-Hour Economy, aimed at driving industrialisation and job creation.
He explained that China considered Ghana a key development partner and remained committed to deepening cooperation across infrastructure, trade, skills training and technology transfer.
Mr Tong gave the assurance yesterday when a delegation from the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), led by the Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador at the Embassy in Accra.
The visit formed part of the company’s ongoing stakeholder engagement to strengthen partnerships, deepen information exchange and explore areas of collaboration.
The Editor was accompanied by the News Editor, Samuel Doe Ablordeppey; the Foreign Editor, Mary Mensah; the Chief Sub Editor, Zakaria Alhassan, and the Deputy Photo Editor, Edna Salvo-Kotey.
Strong relationship
Ambassador Tong said the Chinese association with Ghana and support for many projects in the country, ranging from public buildings to road infrastructure, already reflected the strong relationship between the two nations.
“China is ready to collaborate with Ghana to help advance the government’s vision and improve livelihoods through sustainable development programmes,” he said.
He said his country and Ghana had a long-standing relationship, which it did not take for granted, adding that China had developed long-term policies to support Africa, which it considered as its South-South partners.
The Chinese Ambassador referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s recent visit to Beijing and agreements between the two countries as a testament to the high-level collaboration between both nations.
Mr Tong lauded the pluralistic media and the free speech in the country, saying he scanned through all newspapers every day to be abreast of happenings in the country.
The Chinese Ambassador also touted the large investments Chinese companies had made in strategic sectors of the Ghanaian economy, including oil and gas, manufacturing and processing, mining and automobiles, construction hardware and consumer goods, adding that many of the companies, out of their own volition, were also contributing to lifting the local economies where they operated and provided social amenities to the host communities.
He, however, expressed regret that many a time, the media left out those audacious and impactful investments and works of the about 50,000 Chinese nationals resident in Ghana, and rather dwelt on the few Chinese found in small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mr Tong said those were a handful of Chinese from a particular province in China where they were associated with coal mines and the rest, but said the Embassy was cooperating and assisting Ghanaian authorities to address the issue head-on, although galamsey was a complex livelihood-based issue.
Balanced reportage
The Chinese Ambassador emphasised that resolving galamsey called for strong policies, public support, and understanding of the social and economic drivers that pushed the youth into such activities, adding that China was ready to partner the country as it dealt with the challenge.
He appealed to the media, which he had made a policy to engage regularly, to help promote a more balanced narrative of the Chinese involvement in the Ghanaian economy.
Mr Tong said Chinese companies continued to play a significant role in Ghana’s economic landscape, contributing to job creation, industrial growth and technology transfer.
Development journalism
For his part, Mr Yartey reaffirmed the Daily Graphic’s commitment to accuracy, fairness and development journalism.
“The Graphic brand stands for responsible reporting, and we will continue to provide balanced coverage that contributes to national development,” he said.
Subsequently, he welcomed the call for deeper collaboration, describing it as an opportunity to enhance information flow and a deeper understanding of both sides.
He said the GCGL, through its brands, was ready to assist in telling the impact stories of Chinese firms operating in the country, propagate the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, its zero-tariff policy in the offing for African countries, as well as the globally influential country’s policies towards South-South cooperation and developing countries in general.
Source: graphic.com.gh
