Translators: Ma Xinyi and Hu Dan
As the Year of the Dragon gave way to the Year of the Snake, the Confucius Institute at Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) held its anniversary celebration and the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" award ceremony on January 30 at the university's Great Hall.The event was graced by distinguished guests who delivered addresses: His Excellency Tong Defa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Ghana; Mr. Tang Hong, President of the Ghana Overseas Chinese Association; Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; and Mr. Michael Owusu Amoako, Chief Director of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.
In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Dickson expressed gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador and the Chinese community for their presence. She affirmed that KNUST would continue its close collaboration with Hubei University of Automotive Technology (HUAT) to support the Confucius Institute's development into a unique platform for exchange.
Ambassador Tong Defa conveyed Spring Festival greetings on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana and delivered a keynote speech. He highlighted that 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of China-Ghana diplomatic relations, with 2026 designated as the "China-Africa Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges." In this new historical period, he stated, Confucius Institutes hold great promise, and proficiency in Chinese offers bright prospects. The Ambassador fully affirmed the Confucius Institute's work and encouraged it to leverage HUAT's automotive specialties and academic strengths to thrive, attract more Ghanaian students to learn Chinese and understand China, and thereby serve as a bridge for mutual learning between civilizations and for deepening people-to-people bonds.
Su Zibo, the Chinese Dean of the Confucius Institute, reported on the institute's achievements over the past year and its future plans. He noted that with support from the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, the Ghanaian Chinese community, and KNUST, the institute has expanded rapidly, now operating four teaching points with over 1,300 face-to-face student enrollments. Beyond regular activities like the "Chinese Bridge" school principals' delegation and summer camps for international students, the institute pioneered the "China-Africa Automotive Development Forum" to foster cooperation in new energy vehicles between China and African nations.
During the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" award ceremony, Ambassador Tong personally presented awards to the grand prize winners and posed for photographs with all recipients. He emphasized that the scholarship was established by the Chinese Embassy to encourage Ghanaian students to excel in learning the Chinese language and culture, inject new vitality into educational and cultural exchanges, and promote the flourishing and intergenerational continuity of China-Ghana friendship.
The celebration attracted over 400 participants, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Deans of the Faculty of Humanities and Engineering, heads of relevant departments, faculty, and students. The event was further enlivened by vibrant performances presented by teachers and students from the Confucius Institute's teaching points and its Chinese faculty. (Reviewed by Su Zibo)
