‘Ghana must become W.Africa trade hub’

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, says Ghana must model its aspiration to become a trade and industrial hub in West Africa along the lines of Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong is officially described as a special administrative region because of the unique political, economic and social space it occupies in China due to its colonial history, from which it emerged as an enviable hub for international trade, finance and investment," Ms Botchwey said.

Ghana, she said, also had long nursed an aspiration to become a trade and industrial hub in West Africa, stressing, “this could be modelled on Hong Kong.”

Ms Botchwey said that in an address at an international seminar on China's Development and the future of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) in Accra yesterday.

The seminar, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), was on the theme, "China's development and the future of Hong Kong SAR.”

Unique position

The minister said the unique political, economic and social space Hong Kong occupied in China had made it an enviable hub for international trade, finance and investment in the world.

She stated that adapting the Hong Kong model, coupled with the choice of Ghana to host the secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, could make Ghana the preferred destination for international trade in Africa.

The Chairman of the IEA Board, Dr Charles Mensah, said the seminar was being held to explore the relationship between Hong Kong and China and its implications on trading partners such as Ghana.

Protests

Touching on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, Ms Botchwey said, "While one cannot deny the geopolitical dimension or significance of the crisis in Hong Kong, the fact remains that Africa’s prosperity is closely linked with China’s peace and stability.”

She explained that one of the cardinal principles of Ghana's foreign policy was respect for the right of self-determination of all peoples.

At the same time, she said, "we believe in the peaceful resolution of disputes within and among sovereign entities."

Ms Botchwey commended the organisers of the seminar for interrogating the special relationship between China and Hong Kong and its impact on governance and development.

China won’t be bullied

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Shi Ting Wang, said the Hong Kong protests were not an issue of human rights and democracy as was being portrayed by the West.

He said even though the extradition bill had been formally withdrawn and Hong Kong residents had already stopped taking part in the demonstrations, some

Western countries were still using the protests to incite a revolution and interfere with China's development.

"Western countries want to use Hong Kong as a bridgehead to incite colour revolution, undermine China's stability and block China's development," Mr Wang stated.

He added: "China today is not what it used to be. Time has past when China was trampled and bullied. We firmly oppose any foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs

. China firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR government to rule according to the law".

Mr Wang said China was committed to making great contributions to Africa's development irrespective of criticisms from persons he described as "backseat drivers".

He said China's development philosophy was inclusive and mutually beneficial to all parties involved.