Over the years, the Ghana-China relationship has been soaring higher with economic and institutional partnerships. Regardless of the high figures in trade, cultural, and educational exchanges, there are some imbalances between the Ghana-China relationships.
According to the founder of the Duapa Africa initiative, Musa Frimpong, for Ghana to rapidly progress, there is the need for a balance in the Ghana-China relationship.
Musa indicated that in as much as a lot has been done over the years, Ghana can learn a lot more especially on the level of poverty reduction. “Just like China has minted poverty in the last 3 decades if Ghana can strategically find a balance, then, we can all do better and gain a win-win relationship.”
He noted that the relationship between the two countries on a governmental level was quite commendable but the person to person interaction front was on a low. “If we are able to increase the people to people front and know each other better, we can boost our development rate.”
Sharing his China experience, he said, “One of the things that struck me when I arrived in China in 2017 was the low level of interaction between Africans and the Chinese. I went out to observe what happens in the Chinese industry and I didn’t really see a lot of Africans out there in areas where important business discussions were being made.”
“One of the things you have to know is that China is a new place and you will need to learn a new language and will be faced with cultural challenges in the process. But if you look at the effort to engage and culturally adapt, you will give up in a short while.” He insisted that the business relationship between citizens of the two nations can grow through person to person interaction.
Musa explained that the aforementioned was a major deciding factor for the establishment of Duapa Africa. “Our work is to help Chinese and Ghanaians build a relationship,” he stated.
With Ghanaians being in a foreign land, Musa believes the responsibility falls on the Ghanaian migrant to connect and build relationships with the Chinese.
He advised, “It is very easy to start a business in China. Funding and technology are very widespread and this can help you do your business. Technology is really high here. The difference is so high and what I think is that the Chinese people are ready and willing to share their ideas and teach Ghanaians.”
The businessman appealed to the governments of both countries to provide their nationals with platforms to help them engage in conversations “and if that is not done, the investment in infrastructure and trade will break down, the gov’t should consider deepening the people to people relationship to help us develop.”
By: Joel Sanco
