Ghana receives $13.9b Chinese aid in 10 years

…second biggest in West Africa, more than entire East Africa

Chinese investment and development aid to Ghana totaled $13.96 billion between 2000 and 2011, a new compilation of data has shown.

According to global research firm Open Data for International Development (AidData), Ghana received the money between 2001 and 2011 and these were official aid.

Ghana, therefore, becomes the second biggest receiver of Chinese aid in West Africa after Nigeria which had $16.43 billion, according to the data released in April 2013.

Chinese aid to Ghana was also over $3 billion more than the whole of East Africa which had about $11 billion. The country’s aid from the Asian country was also bigger than what South Africa received from China which was $3.03 billion during the ten-year period.

There are about 78 Chinese financed projects in Ghana , according to a list provided and attached to the data.

Most of the projects are on education, social infrastructure, agriculture, energy, health and transport among others.

Meanwhile, China’s aid to the continent of Africa during the period was $75 billion, AidData indicated based on reported figures gathered from the media.

AidData tracks Chinese development finance to Africa.

By Ekow Quandzie