On 26th July 2016, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Mdm. Sun Baohong attended the inauguration of China-Ghana Graduates Association and delivered a speech. Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Deputy Minister of Greater Accra Region Hon. Isaac Nii Djanmah Vanderpuye, President of China-Ghana Graduates Association (CGGA) Mr. Charles Mawuenyega, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana Dr. Mei Meilian, Ghanaian graduates studied in China, Chinese government scholarship students of 2016-2017 academic year and representatives from Ghana China Friendship Association, Chinese enterprises and communities, totally more than 160 persons attended the inauguration.
In her speech, Ambassador Sun expressed her appreciation to CGGA for creating such a powerful "circle of friends" for the Ghanaian students who once studied in China, and shared some stories about China Ghana friendship. She pointed out that bilateral cooperation between China and Ghana has yielded fruitful results in various fields, with cooperation on education growing swiftly and vigorously in recent years. Ghanaian graduates returning to Ghana are emotional bonds of China-Ghana traditional friendship and the rich sources of China-Ghana people-to-people friendly relations, and provided inexhaustible intellectual support for the social and economic development of Ghana. Ghanaian graduates studied in China as a group of elites in Ghana who have wide knowledge and deep understanding of China, are shouldering the responsibility to let the Ghanaian people understand the real China.
Ambassador Sun said, China has found a path of development that conforms to its national conditions, and this path has changed the face of poverty and backwardness of China. Yet China is still a developing country. China and Ghana share common interests and similar values, and are able to carry out extensive cooperation in international affairs. The youth are the future of bilateral relations. She hoped CGGA would become stronger and stronger under the support of Chinese and Ghanaian government, enterprises and societies.
Minister Hon. Vanderpuye said, the traditional friendship, founded by the older generation leaders of the two countries, laid a solid foundation for the cooperation between Ghana and China in various fields. Ghanaian people appreciated the long-term and selfless assistance from the Chinese government to Ghana. With the fast development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries is being deepened constantly. The Ghanaian people appreciate the discipline and traditional culture value of the Chinese people, and are willing to learn from China to promote the development of Ghana. The Ghanaian government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports will firmly support the development of China Ghana friendship.
Mr. Charles Mawuenyega expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for providing such a large number of scholarships and training opportunities for Ghanaians, and promised to build CGGA as one of the best communication platforms for the Ghanaian graduates as well as provide good services to Ghanaian graduates who studied and want to study in China.
The inauguration was in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The Pan Africa Youth Orchestra and students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana performed several wonderful programs such as music playing and poetry recitation, and won the burst of applause of the audience. Finally, Ambassador Sun unveiled the logo of CGGA together with the Ghanaian official representatives.