A display of art work to mark the anniversary
The Confucius Institute has celebrated its 3rd anniversary and the 2,567th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, after whom the institute is named.
The Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, Dr. Meilian Mei, recalled the emphasis Confucian values place on scholarship and the Institute’s primary objective of encouraging cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. She noted that despite its relative infancy, the Confucius Institute had worked hard to fulfil its obligations and managed to enrol more than 2,000 Ghanaian students in programmes which range from various cultural activities to educational scholarships and trips to China.
She was pleased that the Institute’s scholarship programme for Ghanaian students had recently granted several students the opportunity to pursue their postgraduate education in Chinese universities. The Director noted that the success of the Institute had led to the construction of a model Confucius Institute building on the Legon campus, a project she hoped would be completed before August 2017. The Director pledged to work hard to promote Chinese language, culture, and educational programmes and make the Institute’s services accessible to more Ghanaians.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu praised the Confucius Institute for creating the opportunity for Ghanaians to study Chinese and take proficiency tests in Ghana, a difficult task before the Institute began operating on the campus. Commending the staff of the Institute for their hard work, he encouraged all present to maintain the mutually beneficial relationship between Ghana and China.
Guests were treated to several breath-taking displays of Chinese language proficiency and culture by students of the University Basic School, including an acrobatic performance, Chinese tongue twisters, a Classical Chinese dance act, and a Tai Chi fan demonstration.
Representatives of the Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine demonstrated how to preserve health through Chinese traditional arts and displayed the Chinese martial art of Kung-Fu. A University of Ghana student from the Confucius Institute brought all gathered to their feet with a moving rendition of the Chinese folk song, ‘Tibetan Plateau’.
In her address, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Madam Sun Baohong remarked that she was greatly impressed with the performances and congratulated the Confucius Institute and its teachers. She expressed her gratitude to Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor for attending the event and for their support of the Confucius Institute. The Ambassador expressed the hope that mutual understanding would strengthen the time honoured friendship between China and Ghana and expressed her appreciation to all Ghanaians for their enthusiastic support of Chinese culture.
Other UG officials present were Pro- Vice Chancellor (ORID), Prof. John Gyapong and the Ghanaian Director of the Confucius Institute, Dr Josephine Quarshie. Also present were a delegation from the Ghana Chinese Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the Ghana China Traders Association.
Some children being taught to make Chinese tea (left) and Chinese artifact (right)
