Confucius Institute facilitates cultural ties between Ghana and China
Since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana in 2014, it has supported educational and cultural exchanges between Ghana and China.
This was done through the teaching and learning of the Chinese language and culture, whilst Ghanaian students have been sponsored to study in China.
Professor Ernest Aryitey, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said this in Accra, at the two year anniversary celebration of the Institute.
Worthy of note, he said, was the establishment of the Chinese Proficiency Centre at the institute.
The Centre serves Ghana and its neighboring countries by offering students from these countries scholarships, in order for them to gain admission into Chinese higher learning institutions.
Prof Aryitey said knowing different languages and culture expand the knowledge base of individuals, adding that it is of immense benefit to have such an institute.
“With a better understanding of each other, Ghana could do more business with China and cultural relations between the two countries would also improve,” said Prof Aryitey.
The Chinese Ambassador Madam Sun Baohong, who was the guest of honour for the occasion, said teaching Chinese language in Ghana had improved due to the hard work of teachers and volunteers at the Confucius Institute.
“The opportunity opens a new chapter in the lives of Ghanaian students,” she said.
The Chinese Ambassador said China and Ghana has a broad space for cooperation.
“I sincerely hope that Ghana and China would continue to strengthen cultural exchanges and jointly promote cultural prosperity and development,” she added.
A student at the University Of Ghana Basic School, Nana Ama Omari said the opening of a Chinese teaching site at the University’s basic school has been of great benefit to the school.
“This great friendship has earned us the opportunity to have the learning of the Chinese language as part of our curriculum, and we are able to speak and write basic Chinese as a result,” she said.
The celebration was interspersed with performances by Ghanaian students learning Chinese at Confucius institute teaching sites from University of Ghana basic school, Kwabenya School, Rising Sun Montessori School Dome, and the Ghana Institute of Languages.
The Confucius Institute is co-hosted by the University of Ghana and the Zhejiang University of Technology in China.
It was established in May 2013, and started running programmes in April 2014.
It has established six teaching sites with more than 2000 students, and offers courses in Chinese language proficiency, business Chinese, HSK preparation, Chinese tea culture, Chinese Taichi, Chinese calligraphy and traditional Chinese medicine.
Source: GNA