By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper cooperation between Ghana and China to defend the rules-based global trade system and promote fairness amid growing unilateral policies by some nations.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang, in Beijing, President Mahama said the world is witnessing “a worrying trend where some countries have decided to act unilaterally,” undermining the multilateral order that has guided global trade for decades.
“We all agree that we will adopt a multilateral order,” President Mahama said. “Unfortunately, some countries have decided to act unilaterally, both in terms of their relationships with other countries and in destroying the rules-based world trade order that we all agreed to.”
He revealed that Ghana has already been affected by these global trade disruptions, following the recent imposition of a 15% tariff on Ghanaian exports to the United States under a new executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump.
“My own country, Ghana, has not been spared. We’ve been slapped with 15 percent tariffs,” he stated, adding that the development “is creating a lot of confusion and unpredictability in the whole world.”
President Mahama stressed that this is a time for countries that share common values and aspirations to stand together in defense of equitable trade.
“This is a time that countries that have shared values must stand together,” he said. “As the world becomes more unpredictable, countries like Ghana and China, and other willing partners that believe in multilateralism, should stand closer together.”
The President commended China’s continued partnership with Africa, acknowledging the country’s contribution to infrastructure development through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“We appreciate the work that China is doing in Africa,” he said. “Through FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, China is opening up infrastructure that facilitates trade; especially in Africa as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
President Mahama also praised China’s plans to implement a zero-tariff policy for African exports, noting that Ghana would be among the first countries to sign such an agreement once it is operationalized.
“We want to commend China for the offer of a zero-tariff policy, especially for Africa,” he said. “We believe that when that is implemented, Ghana will be one of the first countries to sign an agreement, a zero-tariff agreement with China.”
He extended his appreciation to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their invitation to the Global Leaders’ Conference on Women, and for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration in January.
“I want to thank President Xi and the Chinese people for sending a special envoy, Hao Mingjie, to attend my inauguration earlier this year,” he noted.
President Mahama concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with China, saying both countries share a commitment to cooperation, mutual growth, and the advancement of global development goals.
