By Alex Ababio
Ghana has taken a major step toward multilingual education and global competitiveness with the official launch of a Chinese language curriculum for basic, junior high and senior high schools. The programme was unveiled by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), held alongside the 2025 Chinese Ambassador’s Awards ceremony.
The milestone event, themed “A Decade of Cultural Exchange and Excellence in Chinese Language Education,” drew together a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including education policymakers, traditional authorities, diplomats, academics, students and development partners. Beyond commemorating ten years of Chinese language education at UCC, the gathering marked a strategic shift in Ghana’s education system—one that aligns classroom learning with global economic realities.
Speaking on behalf of the Board Chairman of NaCCA, Prof. Vincent Assanful, the Director-General of NaCCA, Prof. Samuel Ofori Bekoe, described the launch as a historic turning point in both Ghana’s educational development and its international engagement. He stressed that the occasion was not merely celebratory but fundamentally action-oriented.
“This is about operationalising a vision,” he said, explaining that Ghana must deliberately prepare its learners to compete and collaborate in a fast-changing global economy. According to him, education policy can no longer be inward-looking, especially at a time when economic growth, trade, diplomacy and technology are increasingly shaped by cross-border partnerships.
Prof. Assanful noted that the definition of literacy in the 21st century has expanded significantly. While mastery of one’s mother tongue and English remains important, he argued that global citizenship now requires cultural intelligence and multilingual competence. “To thrive globally, Ghanaian learners must understand other cultures and communicate beyond traditional linguistic boundaries,” he explained.
He further outlined NaCCA’s evolving mandate, clarifying that the council’s role goes beyond regulating curricula. Instead, NaCCA now sees itself as a strategic partner in positioning Ghana’s future workforce within the global economic space. This perspective, he said, informed the decision to formally integrate Chinese language teaching into Ghana’s basic education framework.
China’s growing global influence and its long-standing development partnership with Ghana were cited as key considerations. In recent years, Ghana–China trade volumes have expanded steadily, with China remaining one of Ghana’s largest trading partners and sources of infrastructure investment. Prof. Assanful argued that language remains one of the biggest barriers preventing Ghanaian professionals and entrepreneurs from fully maximising these opportunities.
He explained that the curriculum development process required extensive collaboration and could not be done in isolation. This made the technical and cultural expertise of the Confucius Institute at UCC indispensable. Over several months, NaCCA worked closely with the institute in what he described as an intensive technical engagement that went beyond appreciation of the Chinese language to the science of effective teaching and learning.
The resulting draft curriculum, he disclosed, is competency-based, prioritising communicative ability and functional literacy rather than rote memorisation. It is also contextually adaptive, ensuring that content aligns with Ghanaian values, social realities and educational goals. Structurally, the curriculum is benchmarked against the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency standards, while fitting seamlessly into Ghana’s Common Core Programme.
Prof. Assanful emphasised that the introduction of Chinese into Ghana’s schools should be understood not just as an academic reform, but as an economic intervention. “This curriculum is about reducing barriers—in trade, diplomacy, science, technology and knowledge transfer,” he said. He expressed confidence that the programme would help nurture a new generation of Ghanaian engineers, doctors, diplomats, researchers and entrepreneurs capable of working effectively with Chinese counterparts.
However, he cautioned that success would depend largely on implementation. He therefore charged the Confucius Institute to intensify its support for teacher professional development to build a strong pool of Ghanaian teachers who can deliver the programme confidently and sustainably. He congratulated the institute on its first decade of growth and urged it to dedicate its next phase to deeper national integration and measurable impact. He reaffirmed NaCCA’s commitment to providing regulatory and policy support to ensure the curriculum produces globally competitive citizens.
In an address delivered on her behalf, the Central Regional Director of Education, Dr. Juliet Dufie Otamie, highlighted the powerful role of education and culture in strengthening Ghana–China relations. She described education as one of the most effective tools for opening doors and expanding opportunities for young people.
According to her, the Confucius Institute has served as a transformative platform that equips the youth with knowledge, skills and international exposure. She noted that many students who passed through the institute had accessed opportunities—both locally and abroad—that were previously beyond their reach. From scholarships to exchange programmes, Chinese language proficiency has become a gateway to new academic and professional pathways.
She observed that learners who initially had little understanding of China had, through the institute’s programmes, become confident speakers with a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and broader global perspectives. Commending students who embraced the challenge of learning the language, she encouraged others to follow their example and take advantage of the growing opportunities offered through international educational partnerships. She added that the institute’s impact clearly demonstrates how education and culture can strengthen diplomacy while preparing young people for an interconnected world.
The Ghana Director of the Confucius Institute, Prof. Emmanuel Amo Ofori, reflected on the institute’s journey from concept to reality. He traced its beginnings to early discussions in 2008, its approval by Hanban in December 2015, and its official launch in June 2016. He described the institute as the result of sustained collaboration between UCC, its Chinese partner university and the Chinese Embassy.
Over the past decade, he said, the institute has grown into a dynamic hub for language learning, cultural exchange, academic cooperation and community engagement. Thousands of students have received training, while numerous student and scholar exchange programmes have strengthened people-to-people ties between Ghana and China. The institute has also organised cultural festivals and supported businesses seeking to engage with the Chinese-speaking world. Prof. Ofori expressed optimism that the next decade would prioritise deeper academic integration, research collaboration and innovation.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto, described the anniversary celebration as a moment of pride, joy and reflection. He noted that the Confucius Institute has become one of the university’s most impactful international partnerships, contributing significantly to human capital development and global engagement.
According to him, about 11,000 students pass through the institute annually, a figure that underscores its scale and influence. Beyond language instruction, the institute has supported digital transformation within the university and surrounding communities, equipping learners with skills relevant to the evolving global knowledge economy. He highlighted the expansion of Chinese language programmes beyond tertiary education into basic schools, helping nurture multilingual competence from an early age.
Prof. Aheto also pointed to the institute’s broader social impact, including a two-day career and opportunities fair that created employment, entrepreneurship and professional growth pathways for young people. He referenced the Chinese Ambassador’s Awards, scholarships and exchange programmes that have enabled students and staff to pursue education, training and research in China. Calling for even stronger collaboration, he urged stakeholders to deepen educational, cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
A panel discussion chaired by Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantankah focused on teacher training for Chinese language education in Ghana. Contributions from Prof. Ishmael Mensah, Prof. Clement Kwamina Insaidoo Appah and Prof. Ke Ningli emphasised the importance of introducing Chinese language programmes into teacher training colleges, strengthening linguistic research, and building mentorship systems to ensure quality and sustainability.
As part of the ceremony, citations were presented to Prof. Dennis Worlanyo Aheto and former Vice-Chancellors Prof. Domwini Dabire Kuupole, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah and Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong for their visionary leadership. A special citation was awarded to Prof. Kwadwo Opoku Agyemang, the institute’s first Director, for his pioneering role.
Individual student achievements were also recognised. Mafaatih Wunnam Alidu Cotachi was honoured as the African champion in a global competition for primary students. Kweku Henaku Otsin emerged as first runner-up in the national primary school competition at UCC, receiving a cash prize of $400, while Michelle Yeboah Nyamah placed second runner-up and received $200.