300 Students receive Chinese Ambassador Scholarship

Three hundred Ghanaians studying the Chinese language across various levels of education have received the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship this year.

The scholarship package, a cash award, is to encourage the students to learn the Chinese language and culture better, inject new vitality into the educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Ghana, and promote the China-Ghana friendship.

Beneficiaries of this year’s scholarship were from the basic to tertiary schools and they were presented with their package at an event at the Ambassador’s residence in Accra yesterday.

Beneficiaries

They included those studying at the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Coast and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). 

Other recipients were from the Rising Sun Montesori, the Nouvel Community Academy and the Saint Maur Community School, all in Accra, as well as the Aburaman Senior High School, and the University Practice Senior High School, both in Cape Coast.

Some security personnel from the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) were also beneficiaries. 

Prominence, opportunities

Speaking at the function, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Tong Defa, said this year’s presentation coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute, a centre for teaching the Chinese language across universities globally.

He stated that so far, up to 496 Confucius Institutes and 757 Confucius Classrooms had been established across 160 countries, three of which are in Ghana.

Mr Defa indicated that by the end of 2023, more than 85 countries had incorporated Chinese language into their national education systems with over 180 countries across the world teaching Chinese language; stating that 30 million people outside of China were learning Chinese and nearly 200 million people had learnt or used Chinese.

He added that currently, about 15,000 students in the country had enrolled to study the Chinese language, bringing the statistics to more than 150,000 students in total in the country.

The Chinese Ambassador further indicated that the Chinese Embassy had issued more than 600 study visas to Ghanaian students over the years, with around 300 students on Chinese Government scholarships. 

“More than 4,600 Ghanaian students are studying in China presently,” the ambassador intimated.

Mr Defa urged students to take interest in learning the Chinese language since it wouldl bring more opportunities in the future as the year “2026 will be designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” to develop civilian ambassadors of Ghana to China, and contribute to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries. 

Appreciation

A level 300 Bachelor of Arts in Health Service and Chinese student from KNUST, Mary Afua Boateng, on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation to the ambassador for the support.

She said studying the Chinese language had taught her a new culture and experience, especially with time management and dedication as the study of the language required.

Another recipient, Stanley Barning, said although learning Chinese was not easy, it was soothing to be able to speak due to China’s influence across the globe as one of the largest economies in the world. He said he was optimistic that it would come with job opportunities.