The Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA) successfully delivered a fact-field lecture on Africa-China relations to the master’s students reading International Development Studies at the Presbyterian University, Ghana.
Paul Frimpong, ACCPA’s Executive Director, gave the lecture with the overarching theme Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How and Why China Became Africa’s Preferred Partner.
He spoke extensively about the incidents that shaped Sino-African relations in the past and what could shape them in the present and future. Some of the key topics included the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the debt crisis debate, natural resource governance, trade, investments, and geopolitics.
IMAGE: ACCPA’s Executive Director, Paul Frimpong, delivering the Africa-China relations lecture at the Presbyterian University, Ghana.
The relationship between Africa and China is one of the few alliances that has generated as much discussion and conjecture about the intricate web of international relations. In recent years, academics, policymakers, and the media have given the connection between Africa and China a great deal of attention and scrutiny.
This has sparked a lot of controversy and, regrettably, reinforced certain enduring myths. The myths and misconceptions that have dominated the narratives surrounding this dynamic relationship sometimes obscure the complex reality of it.
The learners had the opportunity to share their perspectives and ask pertinent questions that shaped their understanding as development studies scholars.
It was a very exciting encounter, and as has frequently been the case, there are many misconceptions about Africa’s relations with China that are unfounded in any way.
As a point, we always stress that no country, either from the East or the West, will determine our development journey and interests. We have to do that ourselves and protect it at all costs.
Written by: Mercy Tedeku, Research Associate, ACCPA