IN-DEPTH / IN-DEPTH
CPC in global eyes: CPC is ‘innovative, inclusive and progressive’: Ghanaian volunteer
Enlightenment Through Service
By in Shanghai Published: Jan 15, 2026 10:15 PM Updated: Jan 15, 2026 10:50 PM
Editor's Note:
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out, "to understand China today, one must learn to understand the Communist Party of China (CPC)." With the rapid development of China's economy and society, and the steady advancement of Chinese path to modernization, the notable achievements of the CPC have drawn extensive international attention and scholarly interest. Against this backdrop, the Global Times has launched the "CPC in Global Eyes" column, focusing on the feelings, perspectives, and insights of international friends from various fields regarding the CPC's historical path and achievements.
They include those who have toured China; deeply study the CPC in academic fields; work, live, study, seek employment, or do business in various fields in China; and who, though having not having visited China in person, pay close attention to the CPC's policies and trends. Through their vivid personal experiences, we aim to present a multifaceted overseas view of the CPC.
In the fifth installment of this series, we turn to Shanghai, home of the Memorial Hall Scenic Area of the First, Second, and Fourth National Congresses of the CPC. Revered as the "place of the Party's original aspiration," the area is a touchstone for the CPC's founding ideals. At the Memorial Hall of the Second National Congress of the CPC, a unique team of international volunteers dedicates their leisure time to offering guided services and facilitating cultural exchange activities. The Global Times recently spoke with two of these volunteers, who shared their service journeys and offered vivid, first‑hand observations on the Party.
For Ghanaian graduate student Jackson Kubagma, who is studying international relations at the Shanghai University, his two years in China have been a journey toward a growing understanding of and respect for the CPC through volunteer work.
In 2024, through an introduction by his university, Kubagma took part in a Chinese New Year celebration at the Memorial Hall of the Second National Congress of the CPC, where he immersed himself in traditional Chinese culture and folk customs. For him, the experience was more than a cultural outing - it also offered him a closer look at "the CPC's history and its early development" as presented at the memorial.
Moreover, elective courses on China's political system at his university had already made Kubagma curious about the Party, and eager to deepen that curiosity through direct contact. So, when the memorial invited him to join its international volunteer team, Kubagma accepted without hesitation.
The memorial provides volunteers with concise, structured training covering CPC history and practical skills for serving visitors. Kubagma recalled that Chinese visitors were often intrigued to see a foreign volunteer, asking in English why he had chosen to serve there, while international tourists tended to ask him detailed questions about the exhibits.
"I found that some international visitors are very interested in the fact that the Party was formed during the time of heavy opposition by the colonizers and other invasions, [such as] the Party members had to [secretly] hold a meeting in the boat," Kubagma told the Global Times. "They really appreciate the resilience and the strength of the Party members, their contribution, and commitment to the building of the Party."
Those conversations were casual as well as educational. Kubagma not only shared what he had learned about the CPC's history, but also continued learning from visitors - a two-way exchange that, as he said, steadily deepened his understanding of the Party.
When asked about his impression of the CPC, Kubagma summarized it with three words: "Innovative, inclusive, and progressive."
In Kubagma's eyes, under the leadership of the CPC, China has achieved many astounding feats, with the most impressive being the monumental victory in poverty alleviation.
During his time in China, Kubagma has traveled through cities and villages, witnessing dramatic rural change: accessible education, improved transport networks, and comprehensive public security - developments he sees as built on the firm foundation of poverty alleviation.
Kubagma believes that the CPC's success in lifting people out of poverty stems from sound governance, resolute anti-corruption efforts, and the promotion of rural industrialization. "The Chinese poverty alleviation achievement is actually the project I'm working on in my final-year thesis," he said. "[I'm] looking at its replication or transferability in Ghana, so that we can draw lessons."
Kubagma's experiences in China also sharpened his awareness of biased Western media portrayals of China and its ruling party. He recalled that after visiting the memorial, he felt compelled to present a different picture to foreign audiences. Therefore, he launched a YouTube channel named "AfriChina Connect," producing videos that spotlight Chinese advances in technology, transport, education, and culture, which explores further possibilities for China-Africa cooperation.
"When they see [the videos], they have been enlightened about what is happening in China," said Kubagma. "So that is my motive. I started it purposely to draw lessons from China's developments for African countries to learn from."
Kubagma will graduate in June 2027. For the future, he is determined to either work for the Ghanaian government in China as a diplomat, or start his own business while continuing his volunteer work in the country. Also, he said he hopes to expand his YouTube channel into a dedicated platform for promoting China-Africa exchange and mutual learning.
"My plan is to stay in China after school, because China is my second home," he told the Global Times.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out, "to understand China today, one must learn to understand the Communist Party of China (CPC)." With the rapid development of China's economy and society, and the steady advancement of Chinese path to modernization, the notable achievements of the CPC have drawn extensive international attention and scholarly interest. Against this backdrop, the Global Times has launched the "CPC in Global Eyes" column, focusing on the feelings, perspectives, and insights of international friends from various fields regarding the CPC's historical path and achievements.
They include those who have toured China; deeply study the CPC in academic fields; work, live, study, seek employment, or do business in various fields in China; and who, though having not having visited China in person, pay close attention to the CPC's policies and trends. Through their vivid personal experiences, we aim to present a multifaceted overseas view of the CPC.
In the fifth installment of this series, we turn to Shanghai, home of the Memorial Hall Scenic Area of the First, Second, and Fourth National Congresses of the CPC. Revered as the "place of the Party's original aspiration," the area is a touchstone for the CPC's founding ideals. At the Memorial Hall of the Second National Congress of the CPC, a unique team of international volunteers dedicates their leisure time to offering guided services and facilitating cultural exchange activities. The Global Times recently spoke with two of these volunteers, who shared their service journeys and offered vivid, first‑hand observations on the Party.
The Memorial Hall of the Second National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai Photo: Chen Xia/GT
For Ghanaian graduate student Jackson Kubagma, who is studying international relations at the Shanghai University, his two years in China have been a journey toward a growing understanding of and respect for the CPC through volunteer work.
In 2024, through an introduction by his university, Kubagma took part in a Chinese New Year celebration at the Memorial Hall of the Second National Congress of the CPC, where he immersed himself in traditional Chinese culture and folk customs. For him, the experience was more than a cultural outing - it also offered him a closer look at "the CPC's history and its early development" as presented at the memorial.
Moreover, elective courses on China's political system at his university had already made Kubagma curious about the Party, and eager to deepen that curiosity through direct contact. So, when the memorial invited him to join its international volunteer team, Kubagma accepted without hesitation.
The memorial provides volunteers with concise, structured training covering CPC history and practical skills for serving visitors. Kubagma recalled that Chinese visitors were often intrigued to see a foreign volunteer, asking in English why he had chosen to serve there, while international tourists tended to ask him detailed questions about the exhibits.
"I found that some international visitors are very interested in the fact that the Party was formed during the time of heavy opposition by the colonizers and other invasions, [such as] the Party members had to [secretly] hold a meeting in the boat," Kubagma told the Global Times. "They really appreciate the resilience and the strength of the Party members, their contribution, and commitment to the building of the Party."
Those conversations were casual as well as educational. Kubagma not only shared what he had learned about the CPC's history, but also continued learning from visitors - a two-way exchange that, as he said, steadily deepened his understanding of the Party.
When asked about his impression of the CPC, Kubagma summarized it with three words: "Innovative, inclusive, and progressive."
Jackson Kubagma Photo: Chen Xia/GT
He explained that the CPC's innovative approaches to social problems and economic development are striking; its people-centered focus and emphasis on community services enable broad-based sharing of development gains, a kind of inclusiveness he sees as key to effective governance; and its relentless pursuit of progress - from human capital to resource use - drives the nation forward. "[All these] would make a life better for the people in China," he concluded.In Kubagma's eyes, under the leadership of the CPC, China has achieved many astounding feats, with the most impressive being the monumental victory in poverty alleviation.
During his time in China, Kubagma has traveled through cities and villages, witnessing dramatic rural change: accessible education, improved transport networks, and comprehensive public security - developments he sees as built on the firm foundation of poverty alleviation.
Kubagma believes that the CPC's success in lifting people out of poverty stems from sound governance, resolute anti-corruption efforts, and the promotion of rural industrialization. "The Chinese poverty alleviation achievement is actually the project I'm working on in my final-year thesis," he said. "[I'm] looking at its replication or transferability in Ghana, so that we can draw lessons."
Kubagma's experiences in China also sharpened his awareness of biased Western media portrayals of China and its ruling party. He recalled that after visiting the memorial, he felt compelled to present a different picture to foreign audiences. Therefore, he launched a YouTube channel named "AfriChina Connect," producing videos that spotlight Chinese advances in technology, transport, education, and culture, which explores further possibilities for China-Africa cooperation.
"When they see [the videos], they have been enlightened about what is happening in China," said Kubagma. "So that is my motive. I started it purposely to draw lessons from China's developments for African countries to learn from."
Kubagma will graduate in June 2027. For the future, he is determined to either work for the Ghanaian government in China as a diplomat, or start his own business while continuing his volunteer work in the country. Also, he said he hopes to expand his YouTube channel into a dedicated platform for promoting China-Africa exchange and mutual learning.
"My plan is to stay in China after school, because China is my second home," he told the Global Times.
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