Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast On Monday, 18th June, 2018, celebrated the first anniversary of the first training center in Ghana, University Practice Senior High School (UPSHS) Chinese Training Centre and the Dragon Boat Festival under the theme ”Bravery, Unity and Progress” at the premises of UPSHS, Cape Coast, Central Region of Ghana.
The celebration was the first of its kind to be organized by the UPSHS training center in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast.
In attendance were Mrs. ., the Central Regional Director of Education who chaired the occassion, Prof. Ishmael Mensah (Ghana Director of CIUCC), Prof. Hu Liangcai (China Director of CIUCC), Mrs. Paulina Nyankah (Headmistress of UPSHS) as well as staff of both CIUCC and UPSHS. Also in attendance were students of UPSHS, Ghana National College and University Primary School.
The headmistress of UPSHS, Mrs. Paulina Nyankah in her opening remarks said the Chinese Training Center at her school brings a number of benefits to students. She said though the main mandate of the institute is to train people in the Chinese language and culture, the programme has broadened the horizon of staff and students. She stated that the one-year achievement of the training center at UPSHS is remarkable. She also seized the opportunity to express here sincere gratitude to CIUCC for extending their wings to the school after which she formally opened the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Director of Education said the establishment of Chinese Training Center at UPSHS is to fulfill the proposed mission of the institute in ensuring the inclusion of the Chinese language in the school curriculum in Ghana. She therefore invited more schools to join the programme. She said the acceptance of Chinese language in the region would go a long way to promote mutual educational and cultural exchanges between China and Ghana.
Educating the audience on the Dragon Boat Festival, Prof. Hu Liangcai, the China Director of CIUCC, said the Duanwu Festival,
often known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday in China which occurs near the summer solstice every year. He said the Dragon boat festival which goes by the Chinese name ”Zhōngxiàojié’ is celebrated to commemorate one of China’s great heroes, Qu Yuan. He stated that the festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar. He further explained to the audience that, the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, thus the date of the festival varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar.
The ceremony was characterized by major Chinese and Ghanaian cultural performances such as Taichi, Chinese dance, Chinese traditional song ministration and Ghanaian traditional dance. There were other competitions such as shuttlecock Cricket Competition, Shuttle kicking Competition and Tug-of-war Competition.
Reported by: James Annan
Posted: Iddriss M. Iddriss