On December 5, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Shi Ting Wang attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the China-aided Jamestown Fishing Port Complex in Ghana and delivered a speech. H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Kweku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, Hon. Ishmael Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, as well as representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), local traditional leaders and fisherfolks attended the ceremony. The Economic and Commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Chai Zhijing and the inspection and design team of China-aided project also were present.
H.E. President Akufo-Addo, on behalf of the Ghanaian government and people of Ghana, thanked China for helping the construction of the project, which strongly demonstrates the deep affection by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping for Ghana. President Akufo-Addo said that since 1965, there have been five sod-cuttings for Jamestown Fishing Port Complex but no actual construction has been carried out yet. The Chinese grant makes it possible to complete the project. H.E. President Akufo-Addo stressed that Ambassador Shi Ting Wang’s attendance to the ceremony testifies that China attaches great importance to the project, which indicates that the project will soon be moved from the drawing board to the ground. Hon. Afoley Quaye, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development said that the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex is a new milestone in the history of Ghana-China relations. Ghana is very proud of the project and appeals to local fishermen to cooperate with the Ghanaian government and the Chinese construction team to complete the project as early as possible.
In his speech, Ambassador Wang said that in September this year, President Akufo-Addo paid a state visit to China and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The leaders of the two countries reached important consensus. China will assist Ghana to build the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex and improve the working and living conditions of the local fishermen. The grace of H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo eloquently demonstrates that Ghana attaches great importance to the development of pragmatic cooperation with China. Ambassador Wang stressed that China is willing to work with Ghana to jointly implement the important outcomes of President Akufo-Addo's state visit to China and the FOCAC Beijing Summit, promote the bilateral relations to a higher level, and benefit the people of both countries with more cooperation achievements.
After the speech, Ambassador Shi Ting Wang and H.E. President Akufo-Addo laid the foundation stone for the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex.
China's aid to construct the Jamestown Fishing Port Complex is one of the cooperation documents signed during the state visit to China by H.E. President Nana Akufo-Addo in September this year. The project includes dredging about 118,000 cubic meters Habour basin, construction of hydraulic structures about 1,200 meters, as well as office buildings, trading markets, cold storage, processing areas, commercial areas and other production and supporting facilities.