President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has mounted a strong defence of dealings with China following growing anxiety about China-Africa relations.
According to him, the country needed new ways of resolving critical developmental challenges since the traditional methods of tackling them would not provide the answers. “It is obvious to us that the mode of development trajectory we had been on for many decades is not working” he stated.
Addressing the 73rd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, President Akufo-Addo said that whilst Ghana took steps to educate and train her population, it must at the same time address its infrastructural deficit.
Infrastructural deficit
“We, in Ghana, must build roads, bridges, railways, ports, schools, hospitals, and we must create jobs to keep our young people engaged.
Seeks support and goodwill of the world
“We are trying a different one, and we would appreciate the support and goodwill of the world, especially in helping to stem the huge flow of illicit funds from the continent,” he added.
Rapid transformation from poverty to prosperity
President Akufo-Addo stressed that it was in everybody’s interest that countries counted amongst the poor of the world make a rapid transformation from poverty to prosperity.
Chart our own paths to prosperity
“We are determined in Ghana, and, increasingly, in more and more parts of Africa, to chart our own paths to prosperity, and pay our own way in the world. We are no longer interested in being a burden on others.”
Shoulder our own responsibilities
“We will shoulder our own responsibilities and build societies and nations that will be attractive to our youth.
Africa can do it
“We have the necessary sense of enterprise, creativity, innovation and hard work to engineer this transition. Hence, our vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid, indeed, of an Africa Beyond Aid,” he added.
President plays down growing anxiety
President Akufo-Addo played down the growing anxiety on China’s incursions into Africa, saying there was history to guide the continent’s dealing with the Asian economic giant.
Africa not being colonized by a new power
He said the situation where Ghana, like many countries in Africa, was forging relations with China was “not a uniquely Ghanaian or African phenomenon”, and was not the case that the continent was being colonized by a new power.
Red flags for China-Africa relations
China’s recent ties with Africa have raised red flags, with many raising concerns and criticizing China’s move.
Ghana has initiated plans to sign a $2 billion agreement for the construction of priority infrastructure projects by Chinese firm SynoHydro Corporation, in exchange for alumina processed from Bauxite deposits.
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