Achieving rapid economic growth, China is now the biggest dam builder in the world. Chinese financiers and construction companies have been involved in more than 300 overseas projects, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. However, the role of Chinese players has been widely discussed. One of the two main arguments is that China is a strategic partner of many developing countries; the others hold the view that China may be playing a neo-colonial role. Considering such dispute, it selects Bui Power Project (BPP) to enquire - can we understand the Chinese input in dam construction in Ghana as development or neo-colonialism? It is to explain the research aims and rationale, research questions and methods.