President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper and more practical cooperation between Ghana and China, particularly in the areas of security, logistics, and border protection, as Ghana confronts emerging regional and transnational security threats.

The president made the remarks while bidding farewell to the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, lauding the ambassador for strengthening the existing relations between Ghana and China during his tenure.

“You haven't just been an ambassador or diplomat, you have been a friend, and I'm sad to see you go. Of course, our relations with China are excellent,” the president remarked.

Additionally, he presented a beautifully crafted traditional stool with the Gye Nyame Adinkra symbol on it to Mr Defa.

President Mahama praised the growing bilateral relationship between Ghana and China, outlining areas he believes require strengthened collaboration going forward.

“We want to see a greater cooperation with China in terms of logistics, in terms of training to move on anti-terrorism, in terms of building surveillance of our borders to make sure that we don't have any infiltration of these areas,” President Mahama said.

Ghana’s security architecture must continually evolve to respond to modern threats, including terrorism and cross-border criminal activity, and in this regard, partnerships with strategic allies such as China remain crucial.

Beyond security cooperation, President Mahama also proposed enhanced economic and financial collaboration between the two countries.

He suggested the establishment of a payment and settlement system to facilitate smoother trade and investment flows between Ghana and China, reduce transaction costs, and strengthen bilateral commerce.

Mr Mahama also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his country’s involvement in negotiating Ghana's debt restructuring and for providing significant support for Ghana's development. He cited a $30 million grant for the Aflao Market Project and another $30 million allocated for the construction of a new Science and Technology University in Damango.

The farewell engagement reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with China while seeking to expand cooperation into new and mutually beneficial areas, particularly as the government prioritises national security, economic efficiency, and regional stability.