The Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China is organizing the 2025 National Chinese Bridge Competition for primary, senior high school and university students.
The two-day event, hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast, also features participation from the Confucius Institutes at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Participating basic and secondary schools include Westend International School, University Junior High School, University Practice Senior High School, KNUST Junior High School, University Primary School, Rising Sun Montessori School, Nouvel Community Academy, and Cornerstone International Academy.
The Chinese Bridge Competition under the themes, “Chinese, Joy and Fun,” “Fly High with Chinese” and “Our World, One Family,” is aimed at giving young people the opportunity to showcase their knowledge in the Chinese language through speech and talent show.
Speaking at yesterday’s opening ceremony, UCC Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto stated that the Chinese Bridge Competition is not only a platform for showcasing linguistics talent among young people but also a symbol of the strengthening educational and cultural ties between Ghana and China.
“The Chinese Bridge Competition is a prestigious event that promotes Chinese language and culture, fostering greater understanding and exchange between Ghana and China.
This competition provides a unique opportunity for us, for the students to showcase their Chinese language skills, creativity, and cultural knowledge,” he said.
Prof. Worlanyo Aheto, however, conveyed the university’s appreciation for hosting the program and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting internationalization and language education, not only in Ghana but across the African continent.
For his part, Professor Emmanuel Amo Ofori, Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast, stated that the goal of the competition is to foster cultural exchange, bridge language gaps, and connect students across various levels, noting “the competition is not merely a test of language skills but a festival of mutual respect among the two countries.”
Prof. Amo Ofori used the opportunity to encourage all Ghanaian students to take the study of Chinese language seriously, adding that there are a lot of opportunities for young ones who study Chinese Language.
“In Ghana here, we have a lot of Chinese companies. But see, one of the issues or the blockade in terms of getting jobs in Chinese companies is that if you don’t speak Chinese language, you don’t get that kind of opportunity. So, we want to encourage them to learn, start learning Chinese language, so that it will open up the world for them. They can get opportunities like scholarships to universities in China, they can get job opportunities in Ghana as well,” he revealed.
The areas of the Chinese Bridge Competition constituted writing proficiency, speech proficiency, and talent show.
At the primary level, Mafaatihi Wunnam Alidu-Cotachi from University Practice School, South Campus, UCC emerged as the winner, with Nana Akua Abakoma Amoako from KNUST Junior High School claiming the top spot in the junior high category, while Godfred Takyi Boateng from the Confucius Institute at UCC won in the university category.
While the first and second runners-up in each category received a tablet, the winners were awarded a 51-inch television set.
Additionally, the first runners-up and the winners in the secondary and tertiary categories will have the opportunity to travel to China to further advance their proficiency in the Chinese language.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
