Chinese nationals mark Mid-Autumn festival in Kumasi
Chinese nationals living in different parts of Ghana gathered at a Chinese base at Ahodwo in Kumasi last Thursday night to join the Asia world in celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival.
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The occasion, also referred to as "Moon festival" or the "Day of Reunion", brought natives from different Chinese provinces living in Ghana, their friends and business partners together to celebrate the festival.
The mid-autumn festival is the most important celebration after the Chinese Lunar New Year when the moon is believed to be full and signifies a period of reunion for people who have not been together for a long time.
It is also an important event that is celebrated after the Spring Festival of the Chinese people.
A member of the Guanxi Chamber of Commerce in Ghana, Ms Monica Wei, said it was incumbent on Chinese business people in a foreign land to come together and offer sacrifices to the Moon as custom demanded.
She said it was a day to also share love, romanticise and improve relationships with one another.
She led a group of 50 Chinese people to present cakes, snacks, fruits and candles, among other items, as sacrifice to the moon, which they believe to be a goddess.
Correcting the wrong perception
Ms Wei said the occasion was also necessary for the relationship between Chinese citizens in Ghana and their business partners to be improved.
She said some Chinese businesses in Ghana were involved in road construction, trading, wholesale of commodities, restaurant and hotel activities.
She expressed as worrying the reputation of Chinese nationals who were into mining, oil and gas, and described as incorrect the perception that Chinese businessmen in those fields were wicked and stubbornly disobeyed rules and regulations. She said such negative tag was having adverse effect on their businesses and called for a change in attitude towards them.
Ms Wei urged Ghanaians to see the Chinese as their brothers and sisters and live with them in peace.