Abstract
The past two decades have seen the rise of China as an economic power with an increased engagement with the African continent, especially through infrastructural projects. This study examines China’s infrastructural cooperation with Africa using Ghana and Kenya as case studies. It further discusses the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to establish whether it typifies the principles of “win-win” and “equality” or embodies neocolonialism. The study applies Gramsci’s theory of hegemony to investigate how these principles are reflected in Sino-Ghana/Kenya relations. The study used data from key interviewees, including government officials, Chinese representatives, and project implementers, as well as data from secondary sources. The findings showed two major perspectives: one that views China’s involvement as beneficial, especially compared to Western aid, and another that sees it as exploitative, driven by power imbalances between China and the African nations. The findings demonstrate that China’s infrastructure projects have significantly reduced poverty, generated jobs, and fostered technical knowledge transfer in Ghana and Kenya. On the other hand, concerns were raised about implicit conditionalities attached to Chinese-funded infrastructural projects. Other concerns bothered on issues of transparency, preferential treatment for Chinese companies, and indebtedness to China. These concerns were more pronounced in Kenya than Ghana, where flexible engagement models, like the resource equity swap, have gained acceptance. In conclusion, while China’s efforts helped to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap, the study raises important questions about the actual cost of this cooperation. The study recommends that Ghana and Kenya fashion independent foreign policy frameworks that prioritise their national goals, negotiate more transparently, and involve a mix of young and experienced professionals in the negotiation process to secure better deals. This researcher also recommends that future research look at other African countries’ experiences with China and explore how these nations can strengthen their negotiating power to ensure fairer partnerships.
Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative, China, Ghana, Infrastructure Cooperation, Kenya, Neocolonialism, Principles of Win-Win and Equality, Sino-Africa Relations