President John Dramani Mahama has given Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, a warm diplomatic farewell, honouring his tenure and contributions to strengthening the longstanding partnership between Ghana and China.
In a heartfelt address at the Jubilee House, President Mahama acknowledged that the end of Ambassador Tong’s diplomatic mission in Ghana is a ‘sad’ one, noting the ambassador’s role in deepening cooperation across key sectors
“You haven’t just been an ambassador or diplomat, you have been a friend, and I’m sad to see you go. Our relations with China are excellent,” the President said, noting that the ambassador’s efforts had strengthened cooperation across education, infrastructure, trade, development, and security, while reinforcing people-to-people ties between the two nations.
President Mahama highlighted Ambassador Tong’s achievements during his tenure. He secured a $30 million grant for the construction of a modern Aflao Market, transforming the border town into a regional commercial hub and enhancing livelihoods for traders and communities. He also facilitated a $30 million grant to establish a Science and Technology University in Damongo, supporting Ghana’s education and innovation agenda.
The President noted that Ambassador Tong had expedited Ghana’s efforts to gain membership of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), which has received cabinet approval and is set for ratification by Parliament. He also successfully negotiated a zero-tariff regime with China, a move expected to expand Ghanaian exports and deepen trade relations.
Under the ambassador’s tenure, scholarship opportunities increased significantly, enabling more Ghanaian students to study in China and gain exposure to Chinese language, culture, and technical expertise. Multi-sectorial cooperation was enhanced, spanning trade, infrastructure, education, and governance. Ambassador Tong also supported joint initiatives to combat illegal mining (“galamsey”), including collaboration on visa controls and public education campaigns in China, and promoted the Constituency Smart School Projects, further advancing Ghana’s human capital development.
President Mahama also acknowledged China’s role in supporting Ghana’s economic recovery, including debt restructuring, and the provision of funds for key development projects. He emphasised the importance of continued cooperation in logistics, anti-terrorism training, border surveillance, and proposed a payment and settlement system to facilitate trade between the two countries.
In response, Ambassador Tong congratulated President Mahama on the progress achieved in his first year in office, particularly in stabilising and revitalising Ghana’s economy. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s development and noted that the zero-tariff arrangement for Ghanaian exports would soon be operationalised. Ambassador Tong also appealed for Ghana’s support for China’s bid to host the Secretariat of the new United Nations treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, highlighting shared global priorities.
The farewell ceremony, attended by senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps, showcased the impactful contributions of Ambassador Tong during his time in Ghana. President Mahama’s remarks presented him a Ghanaians carved stool, a cultural token of Ghana’s appreciation to Defa’s strides in strengthening Ghana-China bilateral ties
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