Ghana–China Relations Deepen Ahead of Mahama’s October Trip

President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to visit China in October 2025 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced.

Speaking in a television interview on Channel One on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa confirmed that the trip comes at Beijing’s request.

“China has extended a special invitation to President Mahama, and in October, he will be President Xi’s guest in Beijing,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that Ghana is deepening relations with key partners in the Global South—including China, India, Japan, and the Gulf states—while Western partners remain more focused on internal concerns. He reaffirmed Ghana’s long-standing foreign policy of “friends of all, enemies of none.”

China’s engagement with Ghana has strengthened in recent months. In July, Beijing approved a US$30 million grant for the construction of a new market in Aflao, Volta Region, under an agreement signed by Mr. Ablakwa and the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Tong Defa. Official data also shows that bilateral trade between the two nations reached US$11.84 billion in 2024, cementing China’s position as Ghana’s largest trading partner.

Mr. Ablakwa noted that President Mahama’s upcoming visit will focus on expanding cooperation and exploring new projects of mutual interest. He stressed that Ghana’s partnership with Beijing is anchored in mutual respect and national interest, and not at the expense of relations with other global partners.