The Third World Quarterly published on 17 June 2026 a research article titled "Navigating Cooperation with Great Powers: Elite Perceptions of U.S. and Chinese Economic Engagement in Ghana in the Twenty-first Century" by Monika Rozalska, Paulina Matera, and Bartosz Kowalski.
This study is based on in-depth interviews with a limited sample--22 Ghanaian university professors, government officials, and non-governmental leaders. It concludes that both China and the United States engage in neocolonial practices to varying degrees. While both countries promote development, it is questionable whether their activities align with Ghanaian priorities. Beijing and Washington emphasize access to raw materials over empowering local industrial development. As a result, Ghana pursues a policy of balance towards the United States and China.
