President John Mahama with Premier Li Qiang
President John Dramani Mahama has secured a trade agreement with China that will grant over 98 percent of Ghanaian exports tariff-free access to the Chinese market by the end of October 2025.
The zero-tariff deal, once finalised, is expected to significantly boost Ghana’s export earnings and position the country as a key trading hub in West Africa.
The breakthrough came during President Mahama’s participation in the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, held in Beijing from October 13 to 14, 2025.
The summit, co-chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping and UN Women, focused on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
President Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to gender equality, pledging $10 million to UN Women to support global initiatives.
President Mahama, in his address, highlighted Ghana’s progress in women’s leadership, citing the election of the country’s first female vice president as a milestone achievement.
He also called for bold, transformative actions to promote inclusion and equality across the world.
In bilateral discussions marking 65 years of diplomatic relations between Ghana and China, both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, green technology, and sustainable development.
“Today, China is Ghana’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $11.8 billion in 2024. Ghana and China are bound by a common conviction that progress is most meaningful when it uplifts all our people,” President Mahama said.
He also outlined Ghana’s vision to become a global leader in green industrialisation, announcing plans to partner with Chinese investors in responsible extraction and local processing of key minerals such as lithium, bauxite, manganese, and graphite.
These partnerships, he said, would support the global clean energy transition while ensuring that value is retained within Ghana.
As part of this agenda, he revealed plans to establish a “Green Digital City” spanning the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Volta regions.
“This city will showcase cutting-edge technology in urban design, planning, and innovation,” he stated, adding that an inter-ministerial committee and a transaction advisor will soon be appointed to oversee the project’s design and feasibility study.
In a follow-up post on Facebook, President Mahama described his meeting with China’s Premier, Li Qiang, as “fruitful and forward-looking.”
He said discussions centred on strengthening economic and infrastructure partnerships and supporting Ghana’s 24-hour economy initiative, particularly in agriculture, agro-processing, and value addition.
The two countries also agreed to enhance collaboration to curb illegal small-scale mining by implementing preventive policies and regulatory frameworks.
“China’s collaboration has already strengthened Ghana’s energy and industrial capacity,” President Mahama noted, inviting Chinese investors to explore opportunities in smart cities, renewable energy, road infrastructure, and digital connectivity.
President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to its strategic partnership with China, describing Ghana as “the gateway to Africa,” and extending an open invitation to Chinese investors and tourists to explore the country’s growing opportunities.
By Ernest Kofi Adu