Chinese in Ghana celebrate lantern festival gala
The Chinese community in Ghana has celebrated the end of the Chinese New Year (Lantern Festival), with a mix of activities at the forecourt of the State House in Accra on Sunday.
The festival takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It also marked the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Ghana and China, and the 70th anniversary of China-Africa relations.
Activities included business exhibitions from both Chinese and Ghanaian companies, lighting of lanterns and cultural performances.
The Anhui Performing Arts Group from China and the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana (CI-UG) and other artistes took turns to treat the guests to captivating performances.
The Minister of Food Agriculture, Eric Opoku, and the Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, joined the acting Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Li Yang, and a large Chinese community to commemorate the day.
Trade volume
The acting Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yang, said trade volume between Ghana and China exceeded $14.1 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of over 193 per cent.
He said the Chinese government would, in May 2026, begin a zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, including Ghana, to mark a new step in expanding high-standard opening-up and creation of fresh opportunities for Africa’s modernisation.
On bilateral relations, Mr Li said that political mutual trust between China and Ghana continued to deepen, with practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges flourishing.
The China-Ghana Strategic Partnership, he added, had grown stronger, with bilateral trade exceeding $14.1 billion.
Commendation
The acting ambassador commended the government for engaging constructively with China’s leadership and charting a new blueprint for enhanced cooperation.
He cited initiatives such as the China-Ghana Friendship Smart Classroom project, the launch of new industrial production lines by Chinese enterprises, and sustained investments that were supporting Ghana’s industrialisation and socio-economic development.
Mr Li reaffirmed China’s readiness to work closely with Ghana and other African partners to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, accelerate negotiations on economic partnership agreements for shared development, and promote the early implementation of the zero-tariff policy.
He also pledged to expand exchanges across business, academia, and civil society to further strengthen cultural understanding, mutual trust, and enduring friendship between the peoples of China and Ghana.
Commitment
The Agriculture Minister, Mr Opoku, said Ghana was committed to transforming its agricultural sector as a pivotal aspect of the nation's economic strategy under President John Mahama.
He outlined government initiatives aimed at modernising the sector, including the development of over 3,500 hectares of irrigated land and the expansion of 4,450 hectares through the Central People's Foundation.
The minister said that Ghana's unique geographic position served as a gateway to the larger African market, with access to 1.6 billion people, bolstered by political stability and a clear agricultural policy direction.
He mentioned other investment opportunities as solar irrigation and smart farm automation, adding that “together, we can create a continually enlivened atmosphere that delivers prosperity to both our people.”
For his part, Mr Genfi also said that Chinese businesses had made some impact on the country by investing in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and mining, creating numerous jobs for the youth.
He further expressed gratitude for the support received from the Chinese Defence Academy and assistance offered to Ghana during a recent helicopter crash investigation, which he said highlighted the collaborative spirit of the two nations.
