Accra: China has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding defence cooperation with Ghana through military training, infrastructure development, equipment support, and humanitarian collaboration. The renewed commitment comes as Ghana and China pursue closer bilateral engagement in defence and security, including military education and institutional capacity building.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Cong Song, China's Ambassador to Ghana, gave the assurance at a reception in Accra marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). He emphasized that defence cooperation remains a key pillar of relations between the two countries, founded on mutual trust, respect, and practical cooperation. 'The political mutual trust continues to deepen. China and Ghana are good friends, partners, and brothers, and the prospects for cooperation in various fields remain broad,' he said.
Mr. Cong highlighted that China would continue implementing the outcomes of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President John Dramani Mahama in Beijing last year to strengthen bilateral cooperation and support Ghana's development priorities. He noted that bilateral trade reached US$14.1 billion in 2025, marking a 19.3 per cent increase over the previous year. The Ambassador also mentioned the contributions of the People's Liberation Army to international peace through United Nations peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, and security cooperation and stated China's commitment to multilateralism and initiatives promoting peace and stability.
Mr. Ernest Brogya Genfi, Deputy Minister for Defence, expressed Ghana's appreciation for its longstanding defence partnership with China, describing it as an important contributor to the modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces. He noted that cooperation had expanded through military infrastructure, professional training, military education, and logistics support. 'The Ministry of Defence Headquarters remains a lasting testament to this enduring partnership, and we thank the Chinese Government for that support,' he said.
Mr. Genfi further mentioned the completion of more than nine military infrastructure projects with Chinese support in 2025, including facilities at Shai Hills, Nutekpor, Akyem Akroso, and Bundase. He added that Ghana was also collaborating with China on facilities for the proposed National College of Defence Studies, while legislation establishing the National Defence University of Ghana had been approved by Parliament. Mr. Genfi announced that the Chinese naval hospital ship, Peace Ark, was expected to visit Ghana later this year to provide medical services and humanitarian assistance. 'Our partnership extends beyond military cooperation. It is built on mutual understanding and respect, and we must continue working together to address emerging security challenges confronting the West African sub-region,' he said.
Colonel Dou Yan, Chinese Defence Attach© to Ghana, stated that military cooperation between the two countries had expanded to include personnel training, equipment support, maritime cooperation, infrastructure development, and United Nations peacekeeping. He mentioned that the Chinese naval hospital ship, Peace Ark (Hull 868), had begun its 'Harmonious Mission 2026' deployment to Africa and South Asia and was expected to arrive in Ghana at the end of October. Col. Dou reiterated China's commitment to strengthening military cooperation through dialogue and mutual trust, highlighting that the Chinese military had deployed more than 50,000 personnel to 26 United Nations peacekeeping missions since 1990. He also noted China's support for African Union peace and security initiatives, including the 'Silencing the Guns' agenda.
Ghana established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on July 5, 1960. Defence cooperation between the two countries includes military infrastructure, training, equipment support, peacekeeping, and professional military education.