Have Ghana’s interests at heart as you go back to China – outgoing Ambassador told

The President Akufo-Addo has called on the outgoing Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Ghana, Mrs Sun Baohong to be a strong advocate and also have Ghana's interests at heart as she returns to China.

“When you go back to China, you will be the voice of Ghana in high circles in China, and continue to promote this strong relationship between our two countries,”

President Akufo-Addo made this known during an event to honour Mrs Sun Baohong at the Jubilee House on April 10, 2018, after her 4-year duty tour of Ghana.

Explaining the rationale for the honour, President Akufo-Addo stated that Mrs Baohong had become “a great friend of our nation, and whose tour of duty here in Ghana has witnessed a significant and tremendous expansion of co-operation and friendship between the Peoples’ Republic of China and Ghana.”

The President noted that Ghana-China relations date back to the very early years of Ghana’s independence, and were rekindled in the period of the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor, in the year 2001 to 2008, resulting, amongst others, in the construction of the Bui Dam.

“Everybody who is an objective and impartial observer of the happenings in the country would agree that these last four or five years, where our guest of honour has been the Chinese Ambassador, have witnessed a truly remarkable development in this relationship,” President Akufo-Addo said.

President Akufo-Addo also shared how the outgoing Chinese Ambassador organised an official visit to China for the then Vice-Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, now Vice President of Ghana.

“It was an unusual event. The leaders of the opposition are not usually the beneficiaries of official largesse from governments in power, because we know how tricky crossing that line can be. But she recognised, and the Chinese government did too, that Ghana is an increasingly vigorous democracy, and the possibility always existed that their invitee would be what he is today, the Vice President of the Republic,” the President said.

He continued, “She had the foresight, and it struck me, at the time, as an unusual gesture of friendship and solidarity, and I felt that when the occasion came, I should say so in public of how much I appreciated that gesture.”

President Akufo-Addo also made reference to “her final act of her tour of duty”, as Mrs Sun Baohong executed, with the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, a series of agreements where China has offered $66 million to Ghana for the construction of the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex.

“It is an important initiative to see to the revival of that part of Accra, which has falling into significant decline. That initiative, when it becomes real, will make a large impact on the lives of the people of Jamestown. The balance will go into the completion of the next phase of the University of Health and Allied Sciences,” he said.
Expressing her appreciation, the outgoing Chinese Ambassador Mrs Sun Baohong, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the “extremely friendly gesture”.

Mrs Sun Baohong stated that “It demonstrates your Excellency’s strong commitment to promoting China-Ghana friendship, and further development of our relations. I have only fulfilled my duty as an Ambassador whilst, Your Excellency, the government and people of Ghana have given me much more.”

Mrs Sun Baohong concluded by saying “I came to Ghana with hopes and dreams, yet I leave the country with friendship and honour.”

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