One-hundred and forty (140) students were honoured with $11,000 at the 2022 Chinese Ambassador’s Awards Ceremony held at University of Cape Coast, UCC.
The awards ceremony, instituted by the Chinese Embassy in Ghana in 2017, is to encourage Ghanaian students to learn Chinese and to promote Ghana-China friendship.
The awardees, drawn from primary schools, second cycle and tertiary institutions were selected based on their remarkable performances in the final exams in their respective schools.
The awardees were from the eight (8) teaching centres under the Confucius Institute (CI) at UCC.
The schools include the University Basic School, Creative Academy International, Penuel International School, West End International School and University Practice Senior High School.
The rest are Tarkoradi Technical University, University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) and UCC.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, HE Lu Kun
He explained that over six thousand (6,000) Ghanaian students were studying in China and gave assurance that the Embassy would offer assistance to students who express interest in studying in China.
Ambassador Lu Kun observed that the Confucius Institute at UCC had made huge contributions towards Chinese language education in Ghana and lauded Prof. Ou Yamei, the Chinese Director at the institute at UCC, for her transformational leadership and devotion to Chinese education in Ghana.
He explained that Ghana was amongst the oldest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China.
He, therefore, used the occasion to highlight extensively the enormous benefits Ghana had reaped from China, citing the $ 2 billion Synohydro project, the constructions of the Cape Coast stadium, Bui dam, Atuabo Gas and the National Theatre, amongst others.
Ambassador Lu Kun hailed Ghana for always supporting the interest of China and thanked Ghana for its relentless support for the One China Principle.
“Ghana supports China in its core issues. Ghana has always adhered to the one China Principle. We are grateful,” he said, referring to Ghana’s acknowledgement that there is one China and that Taiwan is a part of China.
VC-UCC (3rd from left) in a group photo with some dignitaries at the event
That, according to him, would provide “the keys to unlock the door to a world of opportunities.”
Prof. Boampong, who shared a handshake with the awardees, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for the continued support to Ghana and UCC. He called for further assistance to improve teaching and learning as well as research activities in the University.
In a brief remark, the China Director at the CI at UCC, Prof. Ou Yamei, advised the award winners not to allow the current success to get into their heads because the recognition was only the beginning. She encouraged them to strive to work hard in order to maintain their standards.
Some pupils in a performance at the awards ceremony
The gathering was treated to good music and a rich display of Chinese culture by the students at the Confucius Institute.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC