Hon. Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta together with the Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Shi Ting Wang on Friday 11th January 2019 signed the exchange of note for the construction of the Phase II of the University of Health and Allied Sciences.

The Minister who represented the government and people of Ghana noted that the signing ceremony marked yet another important milestone in the bilateral economic relations between Ghana and the People’s Republic of China as it reaffirmed the commitments and determination to broaden and deepen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

“Under this Bilateral Agreement, the Government of the People’s Republic of China is providing a grant of RMB 400 Million Yuan (approximately USD 60.0 Million) to the Government of Ghana for the implementation of the Phase II of the University of Health and Allied Sciences project” Mr. Ofori Atta hinted.

The project that would enhance tertiary education in the country and create some temporary employment opportunities for the teeming youth in the community would cover a total floor area of 29,200 square meters with the following construction content: The Central Administration block, the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Duty and Equipment Rooms as well as supporting facilities such as desks, chairs, computers, and some teaching aids for medical specialty.

The 2018 Best African Finance Minister commended China for being one of Ghana’s strongest allies supporting the government’s efforts to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty and added that Ghana’s resolve to grow the country beyond aid was anchored on vision to build a resilient and robust economy that would support our development aspirations.

“Ghana at this stage of its development trajectory requires massive investment and strategic partners like China to support the government’s medium term vision and there is the need for that critical mass of resources to support our goals so what China is committing to Ghana today is especially welcomed” Mr. Ofori-Atta noted.

H.E. Shi Ting Wang, the Chinese Ambassador on his part indicated that in September 2015, the First Phase of the University funded by the Chinese government was officially handed over to the Ghanaian government.

The project which had a construction area of 10,386 square meters included all the equipment for the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Lecture halls, libraries, students’ hostels, senior staff residential amounted to 104 million yuan.

“We have reason to believe that after the phase II project is completed, University of Health and Allied Sciences will become one of the most beautiful and modern Universities in Ghana” Ambassador Wang stated.

Touching on other areas of China’s commitment to the development of Ghana, he revealed that 1,000 boreholes had been completed and passed the acceptance test which solved the problem of portable drinking water for more than 300,000 people in remote areas, Satellite TV for 300 Ghanaian Villages project was about to be completed which meant thousands of residents of these villages would have free access to watch TV on the satellite TV programme, the Jamestown Fishing port which would be a modern fishing port after necessary works had been completed, Ghana Technical and Vocational Training Centers Upgrade project also funded by Chinese government’s concessional loan.

H.E. Wang added that Ghana presently has about 6000 international students in China and was the country with the largest number of African students in China.

“Every year, the Chinese government provides Ghana with dozens of educational and training opportunities in China, which enhances mutual understanding, I am also working hard to improve the learning conditions of children in Ghana and in 2018, the China Embassy in Ghana provided computers and other equipment to some school children” the Chinese representative revealed.

The Chinese government, he noted, was very much committed to promoting cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Present at the signing ceremony were Ms. Yvonne Quansah, Director Resource Mobilization and Economic Relations, Ministry of Finance, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, a deputy Minister of Education, H.E. Edward Boateng, Ambassador of Ghana to China and delegation from the China Embassy.