A Chink in the Charm? A Framing Analysis of Coverage of Chinese Aid in the Ghanaian Media

Much recent scholarship focuses on China's growing global influence. Of note is China's recent charm offensive on Africa through the soft power of aid and trade. With development assistance being key to asserting global influence, it would seem that by pursuing a no-strings-attached approach to aid, China has propositioned itself to Africans as a benevolent development partner. Yet China's business activities in Africa may represent a chink in its image. In Ghana, there is a palpable Chinese presence in nearly every facet of life (including energy, construction and trade). Across these spheres, Chinese elements are the object of criticism. For instance, their involvement in illegal mining ("galamsey") is blamed for the degradation of lands and pollution of water bodies. The question evoked by these cross-purposes of aid and trade is: how is China's influence in Ghana reflected in its image as a development partner? We argue that the media is key to answering this question, given that they reflect and affect the opinions of citizens on national interest issues. The study thus explores how the local Ghanaian media frame "China in Ghana" to their audience as a means to shape local opinions and discourses on the matter.