President Mahama’s visit to China: A new dawn of strategic partnership and economic renaissance for Ghana

The recent state visit of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to the People’s Republic of China on October 11, 2025, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, signifies not merely a ceremonial diplomatic engagement but an epochal moment in the annals of Ghana–China relations.

This high-level visit represents an affirmation of Ghana’s strategic orientation toward the East, in recognition of the accelerating global shift in economic gravity and development cooperation toward Asia, particularly China.

I am a Ghanaian residing and working in China. Over the past few decades, I have witnessed a significant portion of China’s remarkable economic transformation.

I attended the Presidential Business Forum with my Chinese business partner, a national event that brought together Ghanaians living in China, alongside numerous Chinese business representatives. The forum was well attended by both Ghanaian entrepreneurs and their Chinese counterparts.

The optimism and opportunities that such a platform fosters between the two nations are truly commendable. We extend our appreciation to President Mahama for this visionary initiative.

The Presidential Forum took place at a time when the international community continues to navigate the aftermath of the post–COVID-19 economic recession.

President Mahama’s visit stands as a timely and visionary manoeuvre. It demonstrates Ghana’s resolve to reposition itself within a global framework increasingly defined by new alliances, mutual economic interdependence, and South–South collaboration.

Domestically, the visit comes on the heels of President Mahama’s resounding re-election victory and the formation of his “Reset Government”—a governance framework imbued with renewed optimism and anchored on the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s overwhelming parliamentary majority has provided the President with the political latitude to implement his transformative agenda with decisiveness.

Yet, this mandate also comes with a profound responsibility—to translate political capital into tangible socio-economic outcomes for the citizenry.

At the core of the Presidential Business Forum in Beijing lie seven thematic policy pillars:

Economic revitalisation and stimulus,

Agricultural modernisation through mechanisation,

Job creation and employment accessibility,

Promotion of trade and international commerce,

Advancement of green energy, industrialisation, and infrastructural transformation, encapsulated in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto as “The Big Push.”

President Mahama’s engagement with China, therefore, is not incidental—it is a deliberate, strategic initiative aimed at leveraging China’s developmental experience, industrial might, and technological prowess to accelerate Ghana’s own modernisation process.

The Economic and Diplomatic Implications

During the Presidential Economic Forum hosted by the Ghanaian Embassy in Beijing, President Mahama articulated his vision of an economically transformed Ghana—a nation where prosperity is equitably distributed and development reaches even the most marginalised communities.

The highlight of the visit was the signing of a bilateral trade agreement with President Xi Jinping, introducing a zero-tariff regime for Ghanaian exports to China. This landmark accord effectively opens the gates of the vast Chinese market to 100% of Ghanaian exportable goods, offering immense potential for value addition and foreign exchange earnings.

This initiative signals the dawn of a new export era for Made-in-Ghana products—ranging from cocoa derivatives such as chocolate and coffee to shea butter, tropical fruits (avocado, oranges, guava, bananas), and authentic Ghanaian textiles and handicrafts.

The Chinese market’s vast consumer base presents a unique opportunity for Ghanaian entrepreneurs to globalise their operations and elevate national pride in locally produced goods. This could serve as a catalyst for sustained export growth, foreign revenue generation, and domestic employment expansion.

Agriculture and Mechanisation: Lessons from China

A central theme in President Mahama’s economic diplomacy is the modernisation of Ghana’s agricultural sector. Drawing inspiration from China’s remarkable transformation in food security and mechanised agriculture, Ghana aims to reposition agriculture as a driver of national prosperity.

With its expansive arable land and favourable climate, Ghana possesses untapped potential to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency and even become a net exporter of food products.

President Mahama’s call for foreign and domestic investment in agro-industrial ventures—spanning crop cultivation, aquaculture, and livestock farming—underscores his recognition that agriculture is both an economic and social stabiliser.

Through mechanisation, innovation, and value-chain integration, Ghanaian farmers can emulate China’s model of large-scale productivity, thereby reducing dependence on food imports and mitigating inflationary pressures linked to external shocks.

Employment, Industrialisation, and Skills Development

The ripple effects of agricultural modernisation extend directly to job creation, particularly for Ghana’s burgeoning youth population.

By reconceptualising employment beyond the confines of white-collar work, President Mahama advocates for a new paradigm that celebrates vocational and technical skills as vital engines of national productivity.

Industrialisation—rooted in skilled labour and technology transfer—is a key pillar of this transformative vision. China’s meteoric industrial ascent offers invaluable lessons in how a developing nation can harness disciplined human capital, state-led planning, and private-sector dynamism to achieve inclusive growth.

Ghana must, therefore, invest substantially in technical education, apprenticeships, and innovation ecosystems to bridge the skills gap and empower its workforce for a rapidly evolving industrial landscape.

Green Energy and Environmental Stewardship

Equally significant is Ghana’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. As global concerns about climate change and resource depletion intensify, Ghana must align with international best practices in renewable energy, ecological preservation, and responsible mining. President Mahama’s renewed emphasis on green energy initiatives reaffirms Ghana’s dedication to a cleaner, more resilient economy.

This commitment demands not only technological adaptation but also civic responsibility. Ghanaians must embrace a culture of environmental stewardship, safeguarding national resources from exploitative practices while ensuring that foreign investments operate within the parameters of sustainability and national interest.

Conclusion: A Renewed Vision for Ghana’s Future

In summation, President Mahama’s state visit to China is emblematic of a new chapter in Ghana’s developmental trajectory—a chapter defined by pragmatic diplomacy, economic inclusivity, and visionary leadership.

The visit encapsulates the government’s unwavering determination to revitalise Ghana’s economy through agro-industrial expansion, export diversification, and strategic integration into the global economy, with China as a principal partner.

As President Mahama eloquently declared, “Ghana is open for business.” The success of this national renaissance, however, depends on the collective resolve of all Ghanaians—entrepreneurs, workers, policymakers, and citizens alike—to transform optimism into action, and vision into reality.

As the Government of Ghana continues to open the country for business, the state must develop the institutional capacity necessary to safeguard local enterprises and to curb unchecked exploitation by foreign expatriates and corporations.

Furthermore, Ghana’s national interests must be protected to prevent undue influence or abuse by foreign entities.

Ayekoo, President Mahama! Long live Ghana–China friendship! Long live the Republic of Ghana.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.