The Confucius Institute (CI), University of Cape Coast (UCC) has celebrated a decade of excellence in Chinese Language Education.
As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, CI-UCC also launched the new Chinese curriculum which has been added as an elective subject at the secondary level by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The anniversary, which was on the theme: " A Decade of Cultural Exchange and Excellence in Chinese Language Education," also coincided with the 2025 Chinese Ambassador's Awards.
The Confucius Institute has been promoting Chinese culture, social integration and cultural infusion in Ghana since its establishment. It has also been facilitating the teaching of the Chinese language in Ghana.
It is a non-profit public educational organization affiliated to the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.
Addressing the gathering, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, described the anniversary as a celebration of growth, partnership, and enduring friendship between the people of Ghana and China, embodied through the collaboration with Hunan City University.
He added that since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at UCC in 2015, it had trained over 11,000 students annually, an extraordinary contribution to Chinese Language Education in the Central and Western Regions.
"The Institute remains a leading force in promoting multilingual skills, cross-cultural understanding, and global citizenship- qualities that today's interconnected world demands, " he added.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor said in 2019, the CI-UCC introduced the Bachelor’s of Arts in Chinese programme.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto
"The inaugural cohort graduated in 2023 with one student attaining First Class Honours - a clear demonstration of high academic standards. The development of a comprehensive online Chinese language course further reflects CI-UCC's commitment to digital innovation and accessibility.
He announced that the CI-UCC had extended its reach beyond campus, adding that the Institute had established 17 Confucius Classrooms across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana.
Prof. Aheto said UCC in collaboration with Hunan City University and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation inaugurated the West Africa Center for the Training of Local Chinese Teachers.
"In June 2025, the Center held its first professional training workshop for local Chinese Language teachers. This marks a new chapter in regional capacity building and professional development," he noted.
The Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to express profound gratitude to Hunan City University, the Chinese Embassy, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, as well as the faculty, students and staff of the CI-UCC.
For his part, the Ghana Director at CI-UCC, Prof. Emmanuel Amo Ofori, expressed satisfaction at the level of development of Chinese culture in Ghana.
He said the Confucius institute has made giant strides to meet the academic needs of all persons who have various Chinese Language and culture needs.
Ghana Director at CI-UCC, Prof. Emmanuel Amo Ofori
Prof. Ofori said the anniversary was a testament to sustained teamwork, shared purpose, and a decade of meaningful engagement between Ghana and China.
“ The foundations of this Confucius Institute were laid as early as 2008, when the University of Cape Coast and Hunan City University signed an agreement to begin educational exchange,” he said
He paid glowing tribute to individuals who had played significant roles in the success of the Institute, including the first Ghana Director of CIUCC, Prof. Kwadwo Opoku-Agyemang.
The Center also recognised former Vice-Chancellors of the UCC, including Prof. D.D Kuupole, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong.
Prof. D.D Kuupole (right) receiving a citation from Prof. Denis Aheto
He commended the teachers and volunteers at the CI-UCC for their contributions to Chinese Language education and cultural promotion.
He acknowledged the students for their achievements, encouraging them to work harder to achieve better results and to meet the high expectations in their educational journeys.
The colorful ceremony was interspersed with performances such as Chinese dance, opera and songs by Ghanaian Chinese students.
As part of the event, a total of 74 students studying Chinese language and culture at centres established by the Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) were awarded for excellent performance in their studies.
A participant in the event
They were presented with cash awards in recognition of their performance to learn the Chinese language and culture.
Beneficiaries of the 2025 scholarship were from the basic to tertiary schools and they were presented with their package at School of Graduate Auditorium.
Confucius Institute @ a glance:
The University of Cape Coast and Hunan City University laid the groundwork for the Confucius Institute in 2008, signing an agreement for educational exchange.
This partnership blossomed into a strong relationship built on mutual respect, shared goals, and intercultural understanding. As collaboration grew, both universities recognized the need for a structured platform for language and cultural exchange, leading to a joint proposal to Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters) in 2015. Following approval on December 15, 2015, the Confucius Institute at UCC was officially launched in June 2016, becoming Ghana's second Confucius Institute and strengthening academic and cultural ties between Ghana and China.