From June 4th to 8th, 2018, the 28th Escort Task Group of the Chinese PLA Navy composed of PLANS YANCHENG (FFG-546), PLANS WEIFANG (FFG-550) and PLANS TAIHU (AOR-889), paid an official friendly visit to Ghana.
(Welcome Ceremony)
In the morning of June 4th, on the arrival of the the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group, the Ghanaian Navy and the Chinese Embassy held a grand welcome ceremony at Tema Port. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Mr. Shi Ting Wang and his wife, Commander Wu Dongzhu and Commander Guo Hongwei of the Task Group, Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hon. Charles Owiredu, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa, Greater Accra Regional Minister Hon. Ishmael Ashitey, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Ghana Navy Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo, and over 300 other participants including military and government officials, Embassy officials, representatives from the Chinese community in Ghana, Chinese and Ghanaian media reporters were present at the ceremony. H.E. Mr. Shi Ting Wang, Commander Wu Dongzhu and Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa delivered speeches respectively.
(Overseas Chinese in Ghana warmly welcomed the officers and sailors of the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group)
In the evening of June 6th, Chinese Navy Escort Task Group held a deck reception on Yancheng Ship. Nearly 100 people including Ambassador Shi Ting Wang, Commander Wu Dongzhu, Commander Guo Hongwei, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ghana Hon. Major Derrick Oduro, Chief of the Defence Staff Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa, Flag Officer Commanding of Eastern Naval Command Commodore James Osei Kontor, representatives of the African diplomatic envoys to Ghana, as well as representatives from Chinese community in Ghana attended the event. Ambassador Shi Ting Wang, Commander Wu Dongzhu and Hon. Major Derrick Oduro gave speeches respectively.
(Ambassador Wang delivering a speech at the Welcome Ceremony)
In the above-mentioned activities, Ambassador Shi Ting Wang warmly welcomed the visit of the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group. He pointed out that China has always been a participant, proponent, and builder of world peace and has actively assumed international responsibilities and obligations as a major developing power. Since 2008, the Chinese Navy has continuously sent 29 Escort Task Groups to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to perform escort missions. It has successfully completed the escorting task for more than 6,400 Chinese and foreign ships. This visit to Ghana is a journey of peace, friendship and cooperation. It will surely inject new vitality into the further development of the relations between the two countries and two Armed Forces. Ambassador Wang emphasized that, the current China-Ghana relations enjoy a sound momentum of development. China is willing to make joint efforts with Ghana to grasp the opportunity of this visit to further enhance relations between the two Armed forces and two countries and to jointly make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and regional stability.
(Ambassador Wang inspecting the Guard of Honour on Yancheng Ship)
The Deputy Minister of Defense Hon. Major Derrick Oduro and the Chief of the Defence Staff Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa expressed their warm welcome to the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group on the visit to Ghana. They further stated that the visit demonstrates that the bilateral and military relations have entered a new development stage. Ghana expects to further deepen cooperation with China in various fields including the military field.
(Visit of Yancheng Ship by Ambassador Wang as well as Ghanaian military and government officials)
During the visit, Commanders of ETG and commanding officers of the warships paid courtesy calls on Ghanaian military and government officials including the Defence Minister Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Chief of the Defence Staff Lt. General Obed Boamah Akwa, Chief of the Naval Staff Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo, Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly Hon. Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, as well as the Paramount Chief of Tema Dr. Nii Adjei Kraku II. They also visited the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. The Chinese Navy Escort Task Group also held public activities including Ship Tours and participated in a friendly basketball match with officers and sailors of the Ghanaian Navy. In addition, the Task Group, together with the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, donated computers, stationery, and footballs to the Naval Base Primary School in Tema.
(Officers and sailors from the Chinese Escort Task Group and Ghana Navy in a friendly basketball match)
(Donation Ceremony at Ghana Naval Base Primary School, Tema)
In the morning of June 8th, the Ghanaian Navy and the Chinese Embassy held a grand farewell ceremony on the departure of the Task Group. Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Wang and his wife, Flag Officer Commanding of Eastern Naval Command Commodore James Osei Kontor, staff of the Chinese Embassy and over 300 overseas Chinese representatives attended the event. At the farewell ceremony, Ambassador Wang and representatives of Chinese community in Ghana presented gifts to the Task Group. After heading out of Tema Port, The Chinese Navy Escort Task Group and the Ghanaian Navy held a joint military exercise at sea.
(Overseas Chinese enthusiastically bid farewell to the Escort Task Group officers and sailors)
This is the first visit made by the Chinese Navy Escort Task Group to Ghana. It fully demonstrates the good image of China as a responsible power. The achievements of naval construction and the outstanding military and political qualities of the Chinese PLA Navy have played important roles in deepening the traditional friendship and enhancing mutual political trust between the two countries. The visit has greatly inspired the national pride and confidence of overseas Chinese in Ghana. Everyone is inspired by the magnificent force of the Chinese PLA Navy and proud of the motherland's strength.