Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey
30 students studying at the Confucius Institute of the University of Ghana have been awarded scholarships by the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Madam Baohong Sun at a colourful ceremony at the Legon Campus.
Ten (10) awards went to Bachelor of Arts Chinese Students, 19 to pupils of University of Ghana Basic Schools and 1 to an Adult Student of the Confucius Institute.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, who chaired the ceremony noted in his opening remarks that the event is an opportunity for the university to be internationalized. He expressed the hope that Ghana would take the best of the Chinese culture and tradition for its own development.
In her remarks, the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Ghana, Her Excellency Madam Baohong Sun expressed gratitude to the University for attaching importance to the teaching of the Chinese language and the spread of the Chinese culture.
The Ambassador encouraged students from the Basic schools to take keen interest in the learning of Chinese because Chinese can become a very important asset in their endeavours and careers and also add value to their education in the near future.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Madam Baohong Sun
Earlier, Prof. Agyei Mensah, Provost, College of Humanities, in remarks at the award ceremony said the purpose of the awards is to encourage students to work harder at the Chinese language. He disclosed that the annual award of scholarships to brilliant Bachelor of Arts students was started by former Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Gong Jianzhong in 2012. He noted that since its inception three years ago, more than 25 students at the University of Ghana have been honoured and additional awards of scholarships to students of the Confucius institute made this year.
Prof Agyei Mensah, Provost, College of Humanities
The Awards Ceremony coincided with the beginning of the Chinese Spring festival on the Chinese lunar calendar. The Confucius institute seized the opportunity to mark the day with interesting Chinese cultural activities which included Chinese Dumpling Making, Chinese Paper Cutting, Chinese Couplets Writing, Chinese knot tying and Peking Opera Facial Makeup Painting.
Chinese Ambassadors presenting scholarships to students from University of Ghana Basic Schools
Chinese Ambassadors presenting scholarships to students of the Confucius Institute
Chinese Lion Dance by members of Chinese Chamber of Commerce
The Vice Chancellor trying out Chinese Couplets Writing
Also present at the Ceremony were, Pro-Vice Chancellor (ORID), Prof Gyapong, Registrar, Mrs. Mercy Haizel-Ashia, Provost, College of Education, Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, the Ghanaian Director of the Confucius Institute, Dr. Josephine Dzahene-Quarshie and the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, Dr. Meilian Mei.