The Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have officially opened a Chinese language teacher training centre at UCC to boost Chinese language education across West Africa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hu Zhiping, Deputy Director of CLEC, noted the rising interest in learning Chinese across Africa.

"The demand for learning Chinese in Africa has increased in recent years, driven by growing political, economic, and cultural ties between China and African countries," he said.

Hu highlighted West Africa as a key region for Chinese language growth but acknowledged a gap in trained teachers.

"However, "There are more and more people eager to learn Chinese, but we simply don’t have enough teachers to meet the demand," he explained.

He added "The number of Chinese teachers and volunteers coming from China isn't enough, so this centre will help train local educators to bridge that gap."

Prof Denis Aheto, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UCC, said the centre is an important step for education and cultural exchange.

"This centre is more than just a building. It brings people together, builds strong educational partnerships, and helps train local teachers to teach Chinese across West Africa," he said

Prof Aheto emphasised the growing significance of the Chinese language in Ghana. "China's global influence continues to grow, and Ghana has seen a marked increase in students and professionals pursuing Chinese language studies due to its rising relevance," he added.

The event also featured the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UCC and CLEC, solidifying their partnership.

Prof Ou Yamei, China Director of the Confucius Institute, underscored the importance of the new centre, calling it "a crucial step in promoting Chinese language education in the region."