The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Joseph Obeng, has called on Chinese manufacturers setting up businesses in Ghana to form inclusive partnerships that will directly benefit locals.
Speaking to ModernGhana News on the sidelines of the Ghana-China Business Summit opening held on Monday, June 23, Mr. Obeng stressed the need for Chinese investors to ensure meaningful local participation in their operations.
He said that while China has the resources, experience, and advanced technology needed to transform Ghana’s manufacturing sector, Ghanaians must not be left behind in this process.
“They have the technology, they have the resources, and they have the capacity to move us along. But they have to take us along. Once they are coming to invest, we should have a participation of about 30 to 40 percent for the indigenes,” he said.
The GUTA President also called for a deliberate effort by government to create the necessary infrastructure, such as industrial parks, to support the 24-hour economy policy and enhance local productivity.
“The Chinese are very smart. They have already started building their own industrial parks even here in Ghana. So what are we doing, even as a nation or as a government, to create these industrial parks to make it available for manufacturing?” he asked.
He said proper planning and preparation will make it easier for Ghana to position itself for joint ventures, especially under the government’s 24-hour economy drive.
Meanwhile, China, which recently waived export tariffs for African countries, exported over $3.7 billion worth of goods to Ghana in 2023, while Ghana’s exports to China stood at $1.8 billion.
Reacting to this, Mr. Obeng further noted that to close the nearly $2 billion trade gap between Ghana and China, the country must boost its local production and prioritize value addition.
