Economist and Private Legal Practitioner, Daniel Amateye Anim, Esq., has advised the Ghanaian government to tread cautiously, especially in its trade dealings with China.
His comments follow the recent announcement of a zero-tariff agreement between Ghana and China.
Speaking to Univers Business, Mr. Anim raised concerns about the potential risks such an agreement could pose to Ghana’s local manufacturing sector.
“If the agreement is structured in a way that grants us zero-tariff access to China’s market but also requires us to offer the same in return, that could be disastrous for our economy,” he warned.
He explained that China’s dominance in global manufacturing, coupled with its technological and financial advantages, puts Ghanaian producers at a major disadvantage.
“China is currently producing almost everything and flooding both our local and the broader African market with its products. Our manufacturers simply cannot compete unless we’re only exporting raw materials,” he added.
Mr. Anim also expressed concern about China’s long-term intentions, suggesting that the Asian giant is primarily interested in exploiting Ghana’s natural resources for its own development.
“We must be especially careful when dealing with a country like China, whose agenda has consistently been to exploit Africa’s natural resources for its benefit,” he emphasized.
He concluded by recommending a review of the agreement, proposing that it should be structured as a one-way arrangement in which only Ghana receives tariff-free access to China’s market—without being obligated to reciprocate.
“If it’s a one-way deal where China offers us zero-tariff access without expecting the same from us, then that would be a truly progressive and positive development,” Mr. Anim stated.
—
Story by Lawrence Nii Aryee Tetteh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Deborah Owusu and Gabriel Tecco Mensah
