Ghana's Risky $2 Billion 'Roads for Resources' Gamble with China

Ghana is moving forward with an environmentally-risky resources-for-infrastructure deal with the Chinese state-owned construction conglomerate Sinohydro. According to the agreement, Ghana will provide 5% of its bauxite reserves to Sinohydro in exchange for a $2 billion package of infrastructure that includes roads, bridges, power plants and oil refineries. While Ghana's need for infrastructure is understandable, critics contend that this deal is too just dangerous as it threatens the water supply of up to 5 million people . Most of the bauxite that the Chinese will mine is located in the pristine Atewa Forest Reserve in eastern Ghana and is internationally recognized as one of the most important ecosystems in West Africa . The two governments, though, appear determined to proceed regardless of the potential environmental consequences. China recently released the initial tranche of $649 million as part of the deal indicating that both mining operations and construction will start soon. Emmanuel Amoah-Darkwah, an Accra-based economist and market analyst for IHS Markit, is closely following the deal and joins Eric & Cobus to explain why he thinks it's just too risky. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Facebook: Twitter: @eolander | @stadenesque | @Amoah_Darkwah SUPPORT THIS PODCAST. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TO THE CHINA AFRICA PROJECT. Your subscription supports independent journalism. Subscribers get the following: A daily email newsletter of the top China-Africa news. Access to the China-Africa Experts Network Unlimited access to the CAP's exclusive analysis content on chinaafricaproject.com

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Ghana's Risky $2 Billion 'Roads for Resources' Gamble with China is an episode from The China in Africa Podcast by The China Africa Project.

This episode is 34:14 long.

This episode was published on Nov 26, 2019.

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