According to the Chinese Calendar, 2023 is a New Year of the Water Rabbit, which started from January 20th, 2023 of the Chinese New Year, and expected to end by February 9th, next year 2024.
In China, the sign of the Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture.
2023 is predicted to be a year of hope by the Rabbit Zodiac.
To the Chinese, the Rabbit is the Zodiac animal for the 2023 Lunar New Year.
The Rabbit is the fourth of all 12 Zodiac animals.
Other luckiest Chinese Zodiac signs in 2023 are Oxes, Tigers, and Snakes.
People born in a year of the Rabbit are called “Rabbits” and are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious.
Some Years of the Rabbit include 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927.
It is against this background that the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Lu Kun on Friday 20th January 2023 led the whole Ghana China Community, Ghana China Business Enterprises, Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Business Captains in Ghana, the Ghana China Business Associations among other Chinese businesses and interest groups based in Ghana to celebrate the historic Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit in Accra.
The celebrations held at the forecourt of Ghana’s Parliament House was graced by Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Lu Kun, the current Ghana Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Winfred Nii Okai Hammond, Mr. Laud Affrifah, Deputy Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration and his wife Nana Adwoa Agyemang Afrifah, Master Tang Long, the President of the Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce, Ghana-China Business Enterprises, Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Community, Access Bank officials, some former Ghana Ambassadors to China and other very important dignitaries.
There was a thrilling and rich display of Chinese culture and the colours of the Chinese Flag to the admiration and applause from Ghanaians and the Chinese fraternity that gathered throughout the night of the Celebrations.
Some of the rich Chinese cultural activities displayed on stage included the singing of songs in Chinese Language and Chinese Lion and Dragon Dancing performed by some Ghanaian China-trained cultural dance groups.
The event was one great spectacle to behold and was in no doubt characteristic of the Chinese lifestyle and culture.
Ghana has been enviably bonded in diverse areas of mutual Economic and social relationship with the Government of the People’s Republic of China which have brought mammoth benefits and investments to Ghana.
Some of the Chinese nationals from the crowd and audience were so excited about the celebrations and were also happy to be in Ghana.
Addressing the gathering, Ghana Ambassador to China, Dr. Winfred Nii Okai Hammond used the Year of the Rabbit to pray for progress and prosperity and continuous deepening of diplomatic friendship between Ghana and China.
“I bring you greetings from Beijing on this special occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. Today marks a very important occasion for the friendship between Ghana and China. I wish to say a very big Thank You to all my Chinese friends including Ambassador Lu Kun and his team,” he said.
He added that the friendship between Ghana and China in the past three or four years have gathered momentum even in the wake of the COVID and last year 2022 was such a difficult time economically for Ghana as well as very challenging moments for COVID and post COVID policies in both China and Ghana.
“This is the time we friends will seek to be with each other and stand with each other and address the challenges that we face,” he said.
He noted that the ties between Ghana and China started many years ago and Ghana is one of the leading countries that established economic and diplomatic ties with the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
“On behalf of the government that I represent in your beautiful country China, I can confidently say that the year 2023 the Year of the Rabbit which I am told is a very wise Animal, a smart Animal and an animal that brings fortune and big success would bring Ghana and china closer together despite the challenges that we are faced with on many fronts.
I believe this is the time to really get together to sit and as friends and families will do assess and see the areas where we need to support each other and to address the issues that will bring us closer together.”
This is what the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana His Excellency Lu Kun on the other hand had to say:
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, the Ghana Chinese Community Associations, Ghana China Business Associations, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and welcome to all dignitaries gathered here especially some former Ghana Ambassadors to China, members of the Diplomatic Community for joining us tonight to celebrate this all important event that is so special to the Chinese which is the 2023 Lunar New Year of the Rabbit “GONG XI FA CAI”.
As the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, I am optimistic that the New Year of the Rabbit will bring us big progress and deepen the friendship especially between Ghana and China,” he said.
There were other solidarity messages from the Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana-China Business Enterprises Association.
The celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit in Accra was also a time for sharing gifts to some lucky audience.
A promotional raffle draw of tickets was held on the night where thousands of amazing prizes were awarded to some lucky guests.
Some of the mouthwatering prizes won by hundreds of guests included cash prizes of GHC10,000 (Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis), GHC50,000 (Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis) sponsored by Access Bank, Huawei Laptops from Chinese Huawei Technology, Huawei NOVA 9 Android Phone devices, MIDEA Air-conditioners, Branded Huawei Technology Sourvenirs and the ultimate among them were some all expenses paid Air tickets from Emirates Airlines that was worth a nail biting GHC100,000 (Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis).
