Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced the signing of a US$30 million grant agreement with the Government of the People’s Republic of China to support the construction of the Damongo University in the Savannah Region.
The grant agreement was signed as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa, representing the Government of China. The initiative aligns with Ghana’s broader national policy of expanding access to tertiary education through the establishment of at least one public university in each of the country’s 16 administrative regions.
Mr. Ato Forson expressed the Government of Ghana’s appreciation to the Chinese authorities for their continued support, noting that the grant reflects China’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s educational infrastructure and human capital development. He further acknowledged the role of development financing and grants in advancing Ghana’s long-term growth objectives and enhancing socio-economic transformation.
The Finance Minister also commended Ambassador Tong Defa for his active engagement in deepening bilateral relations between Ghana and China, highlighting the long-standing partnership which has delivered significant investments across key sectors, including education, infrastructure, energy, and trade. China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner, with steadily increasing trade volumes underscoring the strength of economic cooperation between the two countries.
China’s contribution to Ghana’s education sector has extended beyond tertiary infrastructure. In December 2025, the Chinese Ambassador commissioned two smart classroom projects aimed at boosting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in North Tongu Constituency. The facilities, equipped with internet connectivity, smart boards, solar-powered systems, tablets, and tailored digital learning content were established at Battor Senior High School (BASEC) and Aveyime Battor Senior High Technical (ABAST), reinforcing China’s support for secondary-level education development.
Ghana has also benefited from South–South cooperation with China through established bilateral frameworks that have facilitated infrastructure development, advanced learning methodologies, and academic exchanges. A notable platform for this cooperation is the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which has played a central role in expanding educational opportunities for Ghanaian students in the 21st century.
Under these arrangements, Ghana has been a major beneficiary of Chinese government scholarship programmes. Since the early 2000s, particularly following the 2006 announcement by former Chinese President Hu Jintao to double scholarships for African students, thousands of Ghanaians have pursued higher education in China. By 2019, Ghana had received nearly 6,500 scholarships, placing it among the top beneficiaries on the continent.
The latest grant agreement further consolidates the strategic partnership between Ghana and China, reflecting a shared commitment to development cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and mutual economic growth. As both countries continue to expand collaboration in education, trade, and infrastructure, the agreement underscores the enduring strength of Ghana–China relations and their collective pursuit of sustainable development outcomes.
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