By Eunice Hilda Ampomah, GNA
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA – Mr Shi Ting Wang,
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has said China intends to offer $60 billion to
selected Africa countries, including Ghana, in the form of government
assistance, investment and financing towards facilitating their socio-economic
development.
He said the funding would cover eight
strategic initiatives on industrial promotion; infrastructure connectivity;
trade facilitation; green development; capacity building; healthcare; people-to-people
exchange; and peace and security in the next three years, and beyond.
Ambassador Shi said this on Wednesday, at a
ceremony at which the Ministry of Communication, in collaboration with
StarTimes, a Chinese multinational media company, launched a 300-village access
to satellite television (TV) project to provide needy communities with digital
electronic gadgets.
He said: “With the guarantee of the …
mentioned initiatives and funds, we firmly believe that the China-Ghana and
China-Africa cooperation will open up broader prospects”.
He said China would fully honour the promises
it had made to some African countries and emphasised that China’s was sincere
about its pledge to aid the continent’s progress in diverse ways.
Ambassador Shi rejected the speculation that
China wanted to take over Africa, saying it was just a fallacy.
“We follow a ‘five-no’ approach in our
relations with Africa: no interference in African countries’ pursuit of
development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in
African countries’ internal affairs; no imposition of our will on African
countries; no attachment of political strings in assistance to Africa; and no
seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with
Africa,” he quoted President Xi Jinping as saying at the December 2015 Summit
on China-Africa Cooperation.
Ambassador Shi said the Chinese President was
emphatic that China valued sincerity, friendship and equality in pursuing
cooperation.
Under the StarTimes, Chinese-Government aided
Project, the beneficiary communities would receive 6000 decoders, 600 projector
TVs, 900 solar lights and 300 Television sets.
They form part of the 10,000 communities that
were selected to benefit from the project in 25 African countries.
“Each community will receive 20 decoders with
dishes and accessories installed in selected individual homes, two projectors
TVs and a StarTimes TV with backup solar light installed at public viewing and
recreational centres,” he explained.
The Ashanti Region would receive 57; Eastern
43; Greater Accra 37; Central 35; Brong Ahafo 31; Northern 30; Western 24;
Volta 18, Upper East 17; and Upper West Region eight.
The StartTimes Company worked with districts
and regional representatives across the country to identify the communities,
with key considerations for the selection including access or availability of
public places (community halls, schools, hospitals, etc.) which could guarantee
the safety of the installed devices.
A total of 20 channels with predominantly
African content, which included news, music, and Ghanaian movies, would be
available to the beneficiaries.
For six months, some selected households would
receive the broadcast for free, however, it would be perpetually free at all
public viewing places.
“In addition, StarTimes will be responsible
for the maintenance and repairs of the devices for five years. They would be
installed at no cost.
GNA