Feature: Chinese language attracts more Ghanaian students

The learning of the Chinese language continues to attract huge interest from Ghanaian students since the arrival of the Confucius Institute at the country's premier University of Ghana, in Accra a few years ago.

In Ghana, the Confucius Institute is leading the learning of the Chinese language and hundreds of Ghanaian university students, including pupils at the basic school level, continue to show growing interest towards the study of the language.

"More people are coming in every now and then," said Doreen Ashiquaye-Doku, secretary at the Confucius Institute.

With arrival of the institute, now Ghanaians have programs that teach about Chinese tea culture, people come to learn to use chopsticks, and have martial arts classes, she told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

To encourage more Ghanaian students to learn Chinese, know more about Chinese culture and participate in nongovernmental economic and cultural exchanges between China and Ghana, the Chinese Ambassador's scholarship award scheme was established.

Since its inception three years ago, more than 25 students at the University of Ghana have been honored, serving as a strong incentive to the awardees and more students.

The 2014 edition of the awards saw 30 students, including pupils of the University Basic School receive the awards for their hard work and good grades in Chinese language learning.

It is the first time basic school students are being awarded at a short but impressive ceremony, which also coincided with the celebration of the annual Chinese Spring Festival. Nathaniel Ocquaye, a Chinese learning student, said the scholarship award was a great source of motivation to students and helped them to increase their learning of the Chinese language.

He said the scholarships often boosted their morale in learning the language and pursuing higher education in Chinese.

"It is a big time opportunity because we as Ghanaians have English as our official language and that adding Chinese to it will make you world class competent personnel. So I will encourage all to take Chinese up seriously," he told Xinhua after picking one of the awards.

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, expressed gratitude for the importance that the University of Ghana attached to Chinese language teaching and Chinese culture spreading.

"Let me assure you that your efforts to promote the Chinese language and cultural learning and strengthening the bond between the university of Ghana and China are fully and deeply appreciated by me and my compatriots," Sun said.

She encouraged students from basic schools to take keen interest in Chinese learning because "Chinese will become a very important asset in all your endeavors and careers in the future and it will add value."

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, expressed the hope that Ghana would take the best of the Chinese culture and tradition for its own development as Ghanaians came face to face with the Chinese culture. Endi