Ghana has received a $30 million grant from the Chinese government to construct a modern market in Aflao, a major commercial town in the Volta Region.
The project is expected to serve as a key trade hub, enhancing cross-border commerce between Ghana and Togo.
The agreement was signed on July 7, 2025, at Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs Minister and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, signed on behalf of the Ghanaian government, while Chinese Ambassador Tong Defa represented the Chinese side.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ablakwa described the project as a fulfillment of a 2024 campaign promise under the directive of President John Dramani Mahama.
“This new, befitting modern market will serve as a powerful economic hub for West African trade,” Ablakwa said, highlighting the market’s potential to connect regional trading centers, including Ho and Lomé, and stimulate local livelihoods.
The upcoming Aflao market is expected to mirror similar developments from the past, such as the Kotokuraba Market in Cape Coast, which was also funded through a Chinese grant during the Mills/Mahama administration.
Construction is set to begin soon, marking a renewed phase of Ghana–China cooperation in infrastructure development and regional economic integration. The market is projected to significantly boost informal and formal trade activities along Ghana’s eastern border, cementing Aflao’s role in West African commerce.
