President John Dramani Mahama has commended Mr Tong Defa, the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana for his good efforts at improving bilateral ad economic ties during farewell talks.

The President, therefore, called for a debt restructuring system between Ghana and China to enhance Ghana’s economic restoration.

The President made the remarks on Tuesday when he granted an audience to Mr Tong at the Jubilee House.

“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,” President Mahama remarked.

A statement issued by the Presidency said the President also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for China’s involvement in negotiating Ghana’s debt restructuring and for providing significant support for Ghana’s development.

President Mahama cited a 30 million US dollar grant for the Aflao Market Project in the Volta Region and another 30 million US dollar allocation for the construction of a new Science and Technology University at Damango in the Savannah Region.

“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,” he added.

President Mahama also proposed the establishment of a payment and settlement system between Ghana and China to facilitate economic cooperation.

Ambassador Tong congratulated President Mahama on the successes chalked up in the first year of his tenure, particularly, in turning around the fortunes of Ghana’s economy.

He called for strengthened cooperation between Ghana and China in industry, trade, mining, science and technology.

Mr Tong noted that China’s zero-tariff arrangement for Ghana’s exports would soon be operationalised.

He appealed to President Mahama for Ghana’s support for China’s bid to host the Secretariat of the new United Nations treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.

Ambassador Tong assumed duty in Ghana in August 2024.