President John Dramani Mahama’s recent conversation with Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya monitored by MyNewsGh, provided a substantive look into Ghana’s evolving diplomatic and economic relationship with China, one that underpins his administration’s broader vision of industrialisation, trade, and regional influence.
In the interview, President Mahama highlighted China’s pivotal contribution to Ghana’s debt restructuring process. Serving as co-chair of the country’s bilateral creditor committee, China helped expedite Ghana’s approval under the G20 debt treatment framework.
“Ghana got its approval in record time, the fastest that has ever happened,” he said, commending Beijing’s support in facilitating what he described as one of the most favorable restructuring outcomes in recent years.
Beyond debt management, Mahama revealed that Ghana and China are advancing discussions on a landmark 0% tariff agreement that would grant Ghanaian goods duty-free access to the Chinese market. “We agreed in principle.
“We’ve not signed off yet, but … we will complete the negotiation and sign off,” he noted.
However, he acknowledged that aligning product quality and certification would remain a challenge, adding, “We need to harmonize our standards between the Chinese standards authority and our Ghana standards authority.”
The President also outlined his vision of positioning Ghana as a strategic manufacturing and export hub for Africa, one that leverages both Chinese investment and Ghana’s improving economic fundamentals.
“One of the most efficient ports… I believe our economy is stable now. This is a time to attract Chinese investors … create Ghana as their hub,” he told Wode Maya, emphasizing the potential for infrastructure expansion and industrial clustering to strengthen the country’s regional competitiveness.
