The event, held on the theme “A Decade of Cultural Exchange and Excellence in Chinese Language Education,” brought together education stakeholders, traditional leaders, diplomats and academics. 

The Director-General of NaCCA, Prof. Samuel Ofori Bekoe, on behalf of the Board Chairman of NaCCA, Prof. Vincent Assanful, described the occasion as a watershed moment in Ghana’s education history and international relations. 

He said the event went beyond celebration, noting that it was about operationalising a vision to prepare Ghanaian learners for competitiveness in the modern global economy.

Prof. Assanful explained that literacy in the 21st century had expanded beyond proficiency in one’s mother tongue and English, stressing that Ghanaian learners should now acquire cultural intelligence and multilingual competencies to thrive globally. 

NaCCA's role 

He noted that NaCCA’s role extended beyond regulation to strategic partnership in positioning Ghana’s future workforce within the global economic space.

He said NaCCA’s mandate to develop relevant, standards-based and forward-looking curricula informed its decision to formalise the teaching of the Chinese language within Ghana’s basic education system, particularly in recognition of China’s growing global economic influence and its status as a key development partner to Ghana.

According to him, the curriculum development process could not be done in isolation, making the technical and cultural expertise of the Confucius Institute at UCC critical. 

He revealed that NaCCA had over the past months, engaged in intensive technical collaboration with the Institute, moving beyond appreciation of the language to the rigorous science of pedagogy.

Prof. Assanful disclosed that the resulting draft curriculum was competency-based, focusing on communicative proficiency and functional literacy rather than rote memorisation; contextually adaptive, ensuring alignment with Ghanaian values and realities; and structurally sound, benchmarked against the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) standards while fitting seamlessly into Ghana’s Common Core Programme.

He emphasised that the launch of the Chinese language curriculum was not merely an academic exercise but an economic intervention aimed at reducing barriers in trade, diplomacy and technology transfer between Ghana and China. 

He said the curriculum would help produce Ghanaian engineers, diplomats, doctors and entrepreneurs capable of collaborating effectively with Chinese counterparts.

Prof. Assanful stressed that effective implementation would be key to the success of the curriculum, charging the Confucius Institute to continue supporting teacher professional development to build a strong pool of Ghanaian teachers proficient in delivering the programme.

He congratulated the Confucius Institute on its first decade of establishment and growth, urging the institution to focus its next decade on integration and national impact. 

He reaffirmed NaCCA’s commitment to providing regulatory support to ensure the curriculum produces globally competitive Ghanaian citizens.

In an address read on her behalf, the Central Regional Director of Education, Dr. Juliet Dufie Otamie, highlighted the role of education and culture in strengthening Ghana–China relations.

She noted that education remained a powerful tool for opening doors and creating opportunities for young people, describing the Confucius Institute as a platform that had empowered the youth through knowledge, skills and global exposure. 

She said the Institute’s work had enabled many students to access opportunities that were previously beyond their reach, both locally and internationally.

According to her, the teaching of the Chinese language had transformed learners who initially knew little about China into confident speakers with an appreciation of Chinese culture and global perspectives.

She commended students who had taken up the challenge to learn the language, urging others to emulate them and take advantage of the opportunities offered through such international educational partnerships.

She added that the impact of the Confucius Institute demonstrated how education and culture could be used to strengthen international relations while equipping young people with the competencies needed to compete in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute, Prof. Emmanuel Amo Ofori, traced the institute’s journey from its conceptual beginnings in 2008 to its approval by Hanban in December 2015 and its official launch in June 2016.

He described the institute as a product of sustained partnership between UCC, its Chinese partner university and the Chinese Embassy, noting that it has grown into a vibrant hub for language learning, cultural exchange, academic collaboration and community engagement.

According to him, the institute had trained thousands of students over the past decade, facilitated student and scholar exchanges between Ghana and China, organised cultural festivals and supported businesses engaging with the Chinese-speaking world. 

He expressed optimism that the next decade would focus on deeper academic integration, research collaboration and innovation.

The acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto described the celebration as a moment of pride, joy and reflection on a decade of growth, partnership and economic opportunity fostered through the Confucius Institute.

He noted that the Institute had become one of the university’s most impactful international collaborations, contributing significantly to human capital development and global engagement.

According to him, the Confucius Institute had shaped the lives of thousands of learners, with about 11,000 students passing through the centre annually. 

He said beyond language instruction, the institute had played a key role in supporting digital transformation within the university and its surrounding communities, equipping students with skills relevant to the evolving global knowledge economy.

Prof Aheto highlighted the institute’s expanding reach, noting that its Chinese language programmes had moved beyond the tertiary level to include basic schools, thereby nurturing multilingual competence from an early age. 

He added that the institute’s impact extended beyond academics, citing its organisation of a two-day career and opportunities fair that created pathways for employment, entrepreneurship and professional growth for many young people.

He also mentioned the Chinese Ambassador’s Awards, scholarship opportunities and exchange programmes that had enabled students and staff to pursue education, training and research in China.

He called for even stronger collaboration to deepen educational, cultural and economic ties between Ghana and China.

A panel discussion on training teachers to teach the Chinese language in Ghana featured contributions from academics including Prof Ishmael Mansah, Head of Hospitality and Tourism at UCC, who advocated for teacher training colleges to introduce Chinese language programmes, and Prof. Solomon Ofori-Acquah and Prof. Ke Ningli, emphasised the need for linguistic competence, research and mentorship in Chinese language education.

As part of the ceremony, citations were presented to the acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto, and former Vice-Chancellors Prof. Dominic Kofi Agyeman Kuupole, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, and Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong for their visionary leadership. 

A special citation was also awarded to Prof. Kwadwo Opoku Agyemang, the first Director of the Confucius Institute at UCC, in recognition of his pioneering efforts.

Mafaatih Wunnam Alidu Cotachi, was recognized as the African champion for the global competition for primary students.
 

waku Henaku Otsin was also honoured  for emerging as the first runner-up in the national competition for Primary School Students held at the UCC, with a cash prize of $400 while Michelle Yeboah Nyamah placed as the second runner-up, receiving a cash award of $200 dollars.