News Agency Acra, October 18th communication| "Ghana regards China as an important partner"-China's experience helps Ghana's development process

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"When I first started participating in the hydropower project, there was a very shortage of electricity in the nearby area, and power outages were common. But now, local people's lives have greatly changed," Oscar, who participated in the construction of Bouwe hydropower station in Ghana, told reporters in Accra a few days ago.

Buway Hydropower Plant was built by China Hydropower Construction Group International Engineering Co., Ltd., located on the Black Volt River, with a total installed capacity of 404 megawatts, and an annual power generation of up to 1 billion kWh. The hydropower plant was used in 2014 to not only effectively alleviate the tension of electricity in Ghana, but also play a role in irrigation, agricultural cultivation, fisheries development and tourism, and promote the economic development of Ghana and even West Africa.

According to Chen Zheng, representative of China's construction unit, the project construction process has fully implemented labor localization, created 6,000 jobs for the local population, trained a group of excellent engineers and operations and management talents, while purchasing some of the materials needed for the construction of the project from the local area, has also driven local economic development.

In addition to the Bouvier hydropower plant, Ghana has several projects undertaken or supported by China, including the Grand National Theatre of Ghana, the Office Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, the Tamali Bridge, Ho Chi Minh Medical University and others.

¡°China plays a crucial and visible role in the development process of Ghana and even Africa.In addition to financial support, China also shares knowledge, skills and experience in areas such as manufacturing, green energy, which are profoundly influencing Africa¡¯s development path toward modernization and self-reliance,¡± said Paul Flingpoon, executive director of the non-China policy consultancy center at the Ghana think tank.

China has long been Ghana's largest trading partner and major source of foreign investment. Hundreds of Chinese enterprises have invested in Ghana, covering infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, aviation, green energy, petrochemicals and other fields, creating tens of thousands of local jobs. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and Canada will hit a record high of US $11.8 billion.

"Ghana regards China as an important partner." Ghanaian President Mahama recently said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Xinhua Agency,"We cherish the unity and friendship with China and believe that after 65 years of accumulation, cooperation between the two sides will surely reach a higher level."

Reporters walk through the streets of Acra and hear the friendly greetings of locals everywhere, and shoppers on the streets speak a few simple Chinese words.

Since May 2013, Ghana has opened three Confucius Institutes at the University of Ghana, Cape Coast University and Nkrumah University of Technology, providing Chinese teaching to more than 150,000 students. In recent years, more and more students have applied for Chinese majors in Ghana, and the number of people who spontaneously go to Confucius Institutes to study Chinese has also increased. The number of international students going to China also ranks among the top in African countries.

Flimpeng said that in recent years, the non-governmental exchanges between Ghana and China have become closer than ever before. Many Ghanaians study, work and do business in China, while more and more Chinese people cooperate with Ghana through trade, cultural and community projects. "These daily interactions have enhanced mutual understanding and trust. Canada-China friendship is not only reflected at the government level, but also in the real connection between the two peoples."