On 8 April 2016, the 15th Chinese Bridge Preliminary Competition in Ghana took place at the ISSER auditorium at the University of Ghana. Chinese Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Mdm. Sun Baohong was present as the special guest and one of the judges, and delivered a speech. Teachers and students from University of Ghana, Confucius Institute, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, Wisconsin International University College, and representatives from the China Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Ghana, the Ghana Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese Traders’ Association in Ghana attended the function.
In her speech, Ambassador Sun said she is very glad to be present at the Chinese Bridge Competition for three consecutive years. She is very proud of the Chinese level of Ghanaian students. The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana has made substantial progress in just two years’ time. Ambassador Sun also announced that H.E. Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will pay an official and goodwill visit to Ghana during April 16th to 19th. Despite the busy schedule, Chairman Yu will take time to come to the University of Ghana and watch the presentation of teaching results by the Chinese Section and Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana. This fully demonstrates the vital importance Chinese top leader attaches to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Ghana. Ambassador Sun said for China-Africa cooperation to develop on the fast track, the wheel of economic and trade cooperation and the wheel of cultural and people-to-people exchanges must be rolling at the same time. Therefore, the ten China-Africa Cooperation Plans adopted at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has included one special plan for cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Ambassador Sun hopes with the joint efforts of both China and Ghana, these cultural and people-to-people cooperation programs will take root in Ghana, driving the transformation and upgrading of China-Ghana relations.
This competition draws a number of contestants from different universities in Ghana; the contestants went through multiple tests such as written test, extemporaneous speech, Q&A and talent show. Their fluent Chinese deeply impressed overseas Chinese in Ghana and was rewarded by warm applauses. For the Chinese talent show, Ghanaian competitors put on clapper talk show, Tai Ji, Chinese marital arts, paper-cutting art, peacock dance, Shaoxing Opera and calligraphy. All the Chinese present were amazed by the Chinese cultural knowledge of the Ghanaian competitors and kept on singing praises. Finally, two competitors stood out and won the first and special prize. They will represent Ghana to go to China to participate in and watch the finals of the 15th Chinese Bridge Competition.
