With one of the highest rates of economic growth in Africa, Ghana has been witnessing a surge in foreign direct investments. According to World Bank statistics, its economy grew by an average of 6 percent annually since 2005 before heading for an assessed 4.5-percent growth this year. Foreign investments totaled over $12 billion from 1999 to 2009.

Much of that investment is from China, with 65 percent being in the field of high-quality electronics, according to World Bank figures. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says Chinese companies such as telecom equipment maker Huawei and mobile phone manufacturer Tecno have set up assembly plants in Ghana.

Apart from electronics, hotels and restaurants, infrastructure development, automobiles, textiles and real estate have seen the most notable Chinese investments in Ghana, according to a senior economist.

"Most foreign investments [made] in Ghana are [from the] Chinese. About 55 percent of the total figures are from the Asian giant," Dr. Harry Mule, a veteran Kenyan economist, told ChinAfrica. "Most investments are in the hospitality and electronic industries. But we are [also] seeing a surge in the medical sector as the Chinese continue to build new hospitals."

Ghana's gross domestic product - $38.58 billion in 2014 - is one of the largest in Africa, ranking 11th. Though it has been overtaken by Kenya and Ethiopia, "with high growth rates, more investments from China are expected," Mule said.

High consumer spending and preferences have prompted increased Chinese investment in West Africa's third largest economy, surpassed only by Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire.

"Ghanaians love purchasing high-quality Chinese electronic products, such as mobile phones, in large numbers. The most important [factor] is that [these phones] have a lot of smart features - more than the more expensive ones from other countries," the economist added.

He also pointed to growing Chinese cultural influence, "Ghanaians love the Chinese. That is a fact. We cannot afford to ignore the Chinese cultural influence [in Ghana.] Ghanaians are purchasing Chinese food in restaurants and Chinese electronics."

According to the UNCTAD, Ghana ranks fifth in Africa in the use of consumer electronic goods, with middle-class Ghanaians collectively spending about $2.23 billion on electronics each year.

"Chinese mobile phone companies have come up with great innovations to attract customers," said Carlo Ameh, a market research analyst based in Accra. "For example, Tecno has come up with highly intelligent gadget features. The Tecno Phantom Z [smartphone] has a high-resolution AMOLED screen [using advanced display technology], an Android 4.4 operating system, fourth-generation network, high-speed WiFi, Polaris Office [an application to read, edit and share Microsoft Office documents], a 13 megapixel camera, and a whole range of other exciting features."

Stephanie Appiah, a supervisor in an Accra hotel, favors Huawei and Tecno's phones over most other brands because of their affordability and advanced voice command features.

"The Ghanaian middle class is increasing every year. They are usually extravagant in their spending," said Mule, the economist. "Since economic reforms began to take shape 10 years ago, every year 5 percent of the people living in the poverty gap [have] jumped to the middle class."

The reason, he explained, was the government prioritizing employment opportunities and higher education. In addition, an increasing number of Ghanaians are obtaining government loans and grants to start businesses and increase their purchasing power.

In line with the focus on electronics and technology, China is working with Ghana to enable at least 150 Ghanaians to study technology in different Chinese universities annually, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Also, in 2016, several Chinese-built roads and bridges will be ready, which is expected to boost the economy further. The World Bank has forecast the Ghanaian economy will grow by 5.5 percent in 2016 and 6 percent in 2017.

(Reporting from Ghana)