Seventy Ghana Customs officers graduated from an eight-week Chinese language proficiency program on Thursday.hmL安康新聞網

They were the first batch of customs officers to take the course provided by the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana.hmL安康新聞網

"The study of the Chinese language will be of immense benefit to us due to the high number of Chinese travelers our port officials have to deal with as trade and investment relations between Ghana and China continue to flourish," said Habib Osman, sector commander at the headquarters of Ghana Customs.hmL安康新聞網

Osman called for a continuation of the program so that all customs officers in Ghana could acquire basic working knowledge in the Chinese language.hmL安康新聞網

Chen Mingjin, director of the consular and visa session at the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, said Chinese travelers visiting Ghana would feel at home hearing customs officials address them in the Chinese language.hmL安康新聞網

"Language is not only a bridge. It is also affection," Chen said.hmL安康新聞網

One trainee, Janet Adjei-Marfo, said the Chinese language course "will help us to open up to passengers."hmL安康新聞網

"As customs officers, we can now communicate with Chinese travelers in their native language and make them feel at home," she told Xinhua. hmL安康新聞網