On the 24th of September, 2019 at 10:00am, the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (CIUCC) celebrated its 3rd anniversary and the Confucius Institute Day with sponsorship from the Confucius Institute Headquarters, Hanban. The celebration was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah. The event which was held at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium had Penuel International School, West End International School, University Primary School, University Practice Senior High School and Cape Coast Technical University as coorganizers. In attendance were the Director of the Political Office of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, Ms. Lou Danzhu, who represented the Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Shi Ting Wang, the Central Regional Minister, Honorable Kwamena Duncan, the Vice-Chancellor of Cape Coast Technical University, Prof. J.D. Owusu-Sekyere, , Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Prof. Amuquandoh, Provost of the School of Medical Sciences, Prof. Buampong, Deans from University of Cape Coast and Takoradi Technical University, China Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, Prof. Chu Bei Juan, the Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, Dr. Josephine Quarshie, China Director of Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Hu Liangcai and Ghana Director of Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast, Prof. Ishmael Mensah, as well as Lecturers and students. There were more than 600 people at the celebration.
In his opening address, the Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast, Professor Ishmael Mensah expressed his profound gratitude to the University of Cape Coast as well as Confucius Institute Headquarters, Hanban for the enormous support given to the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast. He outlined some successes chalked by the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast. Amongst these successes are the successful establishment of three Confucius Classrooms at three teaching centers of CIUCC, facilitation of the award of scholarships to students to study in various Chinese universities, providing employment to students of Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast through some Chinese enterprises, creation of opportunities for cultural exchanges between Ghanaians and Chinese. He also encouraged students and other invited guests to seize the opportunity to study Chinese in order to enjoy the benefits associated with Chinese language studies.
The Central Regional Minister, Honorable Kwamena Duncan in his speech congratulated the CIUCC for the great successes achieved over the three year period and the efforts of CIUCC to promote Chinese language teaching and learning in the Central Region in particular and Ghana as a whole. In order to show his appreciation, he awarded the two Directors of the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast with a “Special Contribution Award” and also an “Excellence Award” to the Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast. He continued to congratulate all who contributed towards bringing the dream of the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast into reality. He emphasized the strong relationship between Ghana and China by outlining some infrastructural developments which were funded by the Chinese government. Some of these projects are the National Theater, the Nsawam-Ofankor Road, the Bui Hydroelectric Project and Teshie General Hospital amongst others. He encouraged everyone to seize and make good use of the opportunities provided by the Confucius Institute.
Ms. Lou Danzhu- the Director of the Political Office of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana who represented the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, also read a congratulatory message from the Ambassador to CIUCC. The Ambassador congratulated the Confucius Institute for its remarkable achievements over the three year period. He again congratulated the Confucius Institute for strengthening the bond between Ghana and China. He promised the Embassy would continue to support the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast for the development and cultural exchanges between Ghana and China.
A video on the three-year journey of CIUCC was shown at the occasion. There were various exciting performances by teachers and students of CIUCC. Amongst these performances were, Chinese traditional dance performances and song performances by the University Primary School, Ghanaian Traditional Dance by Penuel International School, fashion show by the Chinese teachers of CIUCC, a Chinese song performance, Martial Arts performances, amongst other exciting performances. The guests also had the opportunity to enjoy some Chinese poem and flute performances by students of West End International School and CIUCC. These performances made the celebrations more lively and interesting.
West End Int. School 
University Primary School 
Penuel Int. School 
Fashion Show 
Martial Arts 
Chinese song 
Chinese Poem 
CIUCC students’ performance 
CIUCC teachers’ performance
The closing remarks was given by the Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast Professor Joseph Ghartey-Ampiah. He expressed his profound gratitude to the Board of Directors of the University of Cape Coast, the Former Ghana Director and the current Directors of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast and all who contributed to the success of the Institute. He seized the opportunity to emphasize the importance of learning Chinese since the world has become a global village and the need for strengthening China-Ghana relations through the Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast. He congratulated all schools that took part in the celebrations and also encouraged all the invited guests to give their maximum support to CIUCC.
The celebration ended with a special vote of thanks by the China Director of Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast, in his speech, Professor Hu Liangcai expressed his excitement for the presence of distinguished guests and the active participation of students in the celebration. He further expressed his gratitude to Former Vice-Chancellors of University of Cape Coast since 2008 and the Current Vice-Chancellor. He acknowledged their efforts in bringing the dream of having a Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast into reality. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, Former Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Ms. Sun Bao Hong and the current ambassador, Mr. Wang Shi Ting, the Central Regional Minister, Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Former Directors of the Center for International Education, Former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Former Ghana Director of CIUCC for their selfless efforts and support to CIUCC. He stated the Institute currently has about 10,000 students who have been enrolled on the Chinese language programme. He also stated that, about 20 students are sponsored yearly to visit China for summer programmes. During the institute’s three years of existence, it has already held two China-African Urban conferences.
He expressed that even though the institute has faced various challenges over the years, it has been able to make some enormous achievements through the support of the University of Cape Coast. He also announced the commencement of the Bachelor of Arts programme at the University of Cape Coast which is one of the institute’s greatest achievements. He expressed the hope that, the Chinese language would be inculcated into the Basic School Curriculum of the Ghana Education Service which would give job opportunities to Ghanaian students pursing Master’s degree in the Teaching of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.