By: Jude Tackie
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana hosted the inaugural 2023 China Higher Education Exhibition, marking a significant milestone in educational and economic cooperation between Ghana and China.
The event, the first of its kind in the West African sub-region, drew participants from 24 prominent Chinese universities, renowned Chinese companies, including Infinix and numerous entrepreneurial minds eager to explore new opportunities in Ghana.
A noteworthy highlight of the exhibition was the lucky draws, where fortunate attendees walked away with sponsored products and brand-new Infinix smartphones, adding an element of excitement and reward to the day’s proceedings.
The event was graced by distinguished personalities, including Prof. Nii Arday Codjoe, the Provost of the College of Education at the University of Ghana, representing the Vice-Chancellor, Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, and Nana Barfuor from the Ministry of Education, representing the Minister. Executives from the China Scholarship Council in Ghana also joined the gathering.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Lu Kun, expressed his fervour for Ghana as an enticing destination for Chinese investments during the exhibition’s opening ceremony.
Ambassador Lu Kun was visibly moved by the warmth and hospitality of the Ghanaian people. He remarked, “Today you can see the presence of several entrepreneurs and companies from China. A proven testament that Ghana is very attractive to Chinese investments.”
Ambassador Lu Kun further emphasized the strong historical ties between Ghana and China as he disclosed plans to provide help to African countries in the upcoming Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), an agricultural cooperation and exchange conference between China and countries, FOCAC.
“Africa has always been a diplomatic priority for China. China remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. Next year, China will host a new session of FOCAC meeting. As we join hands to advance modernization, we will deliver a better future for the Chinese and African people and set a fine example in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” he added.
Prof. Nii Arday Codjoe on the other hand acknowledged the achievements of CIUG since its operations in 2014.
“This improved the opportunities for students in our undergraduate Chinese programme and others outside our programme to learn Chinese language and Culture. Thus, more of our students are getting to study in China with varying levels of support from the China Scholarship Council as well as host universities,” he said.
He however advocated to the China Scholarship Council to cover more Ghanaian students through its sponsorship schemes. “Of the sixty thousand scholarships offered to foreigners, five hundred are offered to Ghanaians. This is commendable. However, it can be improved. By this, I mean that because interest in studying in China will increase following today’s exhibition, there will be the need to consider increasing the number of scholarships to Ghanaians and people from the West African subregion,” he added.
The 2023 China Higher Education Exhibition not only served as a platform for knowledge exchange but also strengthened ties between Ghana and China in the realms of education and commerce, promising a bright future of cooperation and mutual growth between the two nations.
Ghana’s allure for Chinese investments was prominently highlighted, and the event left a lasting impression on all who attended.