Ghana on Wednesday joined the People's Repub­lic of China to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.Dr Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Defence, said the celebration was not just a testament to China's rich history and resil­ience but also a reflection of the strong bilateral relations between Ghana and China."Our nations have forged a partnership built on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation," he men­tioned.Dr Boamah stated that Ghana and China collaborate on inter­national and regional affairs, and that Ghana proudly participates in initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, which has brought nu­merous benefits to our economic and social development.He said one of the most sig­nificant aspects of Ghana-China relationship was the military coop­eration between Ghana and China.The Minister of Defence also noted that China continue to provide invaluable assistance to Ghana's military, enhancing its capabilities through infrastructural development, training, and equip­ment support.He enumerated some projects funded by Chinese government in Ghana, including RMB 50,000,000 "Military Aid Gratis" for the con­struction of facilities for the Na­tional College of Defence Studies, a testament to their commitment to our mutual security and defence, the Ministry of Defence building in Ghana, constructed by the Chinese government through a grant of $50 million.Furthermore, Dr Boamah said China committed to funding nine critical military projects in Ghana, including the Army Recruit Train­ing School at Shai Hills, the Naval Training Command at Nutekpor, the Air Force Training School at Takoradi, and the Battle Training Camp at Bundase.

These proj­ects will significantly enhance the capabilities of our armed forces, ensuring we are better equipped to address regional security challenges."Our partnership extends be­yond military cooperation.

Ghana has consistently supported China's position on various issues at the United Nations, particularly regard­ing China's representation and the "One China" policy.

This mutual understanding and respect have fostered a strong foundation for our bilateral relations," Dr Boamah added.As we look to the future, Dr Boamah noted that it was impera­tive that the two countries continue to nurture and strengthen their partnership.He again stated that the secu­rity landscape in West Africa was complex and multidimensional, with threats from fundamentalists, violent extremists, terrorists, and pi­rates.