Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has called for a shift in Ghana’s trade relationship with China towards greater local processing, manufacturing, technology transfer and job creation.

He said although China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner, the structure of trade between the two countries must change to ensure Ghana derives greater value from its exports.

Dr Forson was speaking at the opening of the Fifth Session of the Ghana–China Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation.

“China is now Ghana’s largest trading partner, but the structure must improve,” he said.

The Finance Minister said Ghana’s priority was to process more of its raw materials locally and significantly increase exports of processed cocoa and other value-added products to the Chinese market.

He said Ghana was seeking investments that would strengthen local production and create sustainable employment opportunities.

“We seek investments that build processing plants and manufacturing lines, transfer technology, procure from Ghanaian businesses, train our people and create sustainable jobs,” Dr Forson stressed.

According to him, Ghana’s economic partnership with China must go beyond trade volumes and translate into tangible opportunities for local businesses, workers and the wider economy.

He said greater emphasis on value addition would help Ghana retain more economic value from its natural resources while strengthening domestic production and industrial capacity.

China pledges deeper economic cooperation

China’s Assistant Minister for Commerce, Zhang Li, who is visiting Ghana for the first time, commended the government for what he described as recent improvements in the country’s economy.

He reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening economic and commercial cooperation with Ghana.

Mr Zhang said China was also prepared to support the government’s Big Push Programme and other priority initiatives aimed at accelerating Ghana’s economic development.