KNUST Senior High School, Opoku Ware Senior High School, and Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School have emerged winners of their respective contests in the Ashanti Region at the 7th edition of the National Public Speaking Competition. The three schools progressed to the national stage after the preliminary stage in the Ashanti Region. The competition, themed “Stolen Futures: Drug and Substance Abuse Among Adolescent,” seeks to encourage young people to use public speaking to address societal challenges.
The Ashanti Regional contest was held at Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School, with 12 schools competing in three contests. Contest One featured KNUST SHS, T.I. Amass SHS, Prempeh College, and Kumasi Anglican SHS. Contest Two comprised Jachie Pramso SHS, Serwaa Nyarko SHS, Opoku Ware SHS, and Kumasi Girls SHS. Contest Three featured Osei Tutu SHS, Kumasi High SHS, Yaa Asantewaa SHS, and St. Louis SHS.
Winners of the first contest, KNUST SHS representatives Ernestina Owusu and Augustina Sekyere, described the experience as educational and expressed confidence ahead of the next stage. They believe that when they give their best, they can win the ultimate. Opoku Ware SHS representatives Paul Gyamfi and Prince Adjei, who won the second contest, said they were nervous but prepared for the next stage.
Yaa Asantewaa Girls SHS representatives Akosua Addo and Esther Sarfo said the pressure of the contest was evident but their preparation helped them overcome it. They are confident and prepared for the next stage. The students expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for the competition, which they believe has helped them develop their public speaking skills.
Regional Cultural Coordinator and organizer of the event, Samuel Atta, has appealed to the government to make a dedicated budgetary allocation to the competition to improve its organization and support participating students. He described the competition as an important educational and solution-oriented initiative for young people.
Samuel Atta noted that the competition is preparing children for the future by training them to address issues of concern and provide alternative solutions. Organized by DeeDee Global in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and under the patronage of the Speaker of Parliament, the annual competition promotes patriotism, creativity, and national development among the youth.
The National Public Speaking Competition is designed to develop students’ critical thinking, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, confidence in addressing public audiences, and leadership abilities. The competition has been growing in popularity, and this year's event has seen an increase in participation from schools across the region.
Key points
- The three schools progressing to the national stage are KNUST SHS, Opoku Ware SHS, and Yaa Asantewaa SHS.
- The competition is themed “Stolen Futures: Drug and Substance Abuse Among Adolescent.”
- The event was organized by DeeDee Global in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and under the patronage of the Speaker of Parliament.
