Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) has emerged as the champion of the maiden edition of the Mental Slam basketball competition in the Volta Region. The school won both the girls' and boys' categories, showcasing their dominance in the four-school tournament. The competition aimed to promote mental health awareness among teenagers, who are prone to anxiety disorders and depression.
In the boys' category, KETASCO beat the host school, Mawuli School, by a single point in a thrilling final. The game ended 22-21 in favor of KETASCO. The school started the competition strongly, securing 25 points in a 42-point match against Awudome Senior High School, which earned them a spot in the final. Bishop Herman College struggled in the tournament, losing both games to Mawuli and Awudome Senior High School.
Mawuli School, the host, failed to make an impact in the girls' category, losing to KETASCO in the final. The game ended 30-6 in favor of KETASCO. The school had sealed their qualification for the final with a win over Ola Girls Senior High School in a 6-3, two-quarter game. KETASCO ended the competition with the highest number of points: 55.
Ola Girls Senior High School finished in third position after beating Awudome Senior High School, which had earlier lost to KETASCO 24-7. The winning teams, KETASCO, were presented with trophies and gold medals. The second- and third-placed teams received silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The Head of Programmes for the KGL Foundation, Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, congratulated the winning teams and urged the losing teams to keep practicing and believing in themselves. He explained that Mental Slam was designed to promote mental health among teenagers.
According to Mr. Annorbah-Sarpei, the KGL Foundation aims to promote mental health in educational communities by providing well-equipped counseling centers in selected schools across the country. The foundation plans to rehabilitate counseling centers in some of the schools, including Keta Senior High Technical School, Mawuli School, and Ola Senior High School.
The Mental Slam competition is part of the KGL Foundation's mental health project, MHI (Mental Health Index), which uses basketball as a conduit to promote awareness and education on mental health-related topics. Students, especially those who participate in sports, were advised against doping or relying on substances as energy boosters.
Key points
- Keta Senior High Technical School won both the girls' and boys' categories of the Mental Slam basketball tournament.
- The competition aimed to promote mental health awareness among teenagers.
- The KGL Foundation plans to provide well-equipped counseling centers in selected schools across the country.
