As part of activities marking Ghana’s 65th Independence Day celebrations, Cowbell has partnered with the Ghana Education Service to organise a historic 25th Inter-Senior High School Debate grand finale at the Assembly Hall, Adisadel College in Cape Coast.
In an all-female contest, Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School capped a brilliant outing to beat Serwaa Kesse Girls’ Senior High School to win the contest, earning 79.2% compared to the 70% the latter received from the judges.
The two schools traded arguments for and against the motion “Time changes nothing, Decisions bring change.”
Serwaa Kesse Girls’ S.H.S. were the reigning champions from the northern zone edition of the debate while Mfantsiman S.H.S. were the reigning southern zone champions in a competition that initially involved hundreds of schools across the country.
Based in Duayaw Nkwanta in Ahafo, the debaters from Serwaa Kesse started the hotly contested debate by arguing for the motion, providing facts and practical examples to back their position.
However, the girls from Mfantsiman, affectionately known as Mansyte, argued against the motion by stating that other variables such as the availability of resources play a bigger role in bringing changes.
The lead debater for Mfantsiman Girls’ Jennifer Zuttah Kafui could not hide her joy at her schools’ good fortune. “The secret to our victory is teamwork and hard work. We did it for the love of the country,” she said.
The lead debater for Serwaa Kesse S.H.S Nana Grace Ampomah said she and her colleagues had gained a lot of experience and exposure through the competition.
“We are delighted to have made it here,” she said, adding that, “we are not disappointed at the outcome. There were hundreds of schools that took part in this debate. We passed through the zonal stage, regionals and made it to the top two.”
The historic victory was made all the more wonderful on the occasion of Ghana’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration which is due to hold in Cape Coast on Sunday, 6th March 2022.
A Deputy Director-General of the G.E.S. Dr. Kwabena Bempah Tandoh said the G.E.S and Cowbell place a lot of importance on the event as the country celebrates its 65th Independence anniversary.
He added the event forms part of efforts to “working together, bouncing back better as the country strives to get back to its feet following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Brands Manager of Promasidor, producers of Cowbell, Joseph Ashong expressed his delight at the outcome of the event, adding that the debate was meant to instill the values of patriotism and discipline among the participants.
“This is to remind students about how to be patriotic and instill in them the discipline of how to debate your ideas and not seek a violent way of forcing your ideas on others,” he told www.liquidsportsghana.com
“It is part of the 65th Independence Day events that were approved by the national organisers. It all started with the quiz last week Sunday by the Ghana Education Service. So it is a big event. This started some 6 months involving quiet a number of schools in the country and we have the winners today.
Asked about the impact of the event, Mr. Ashong said there has been a massive increase in the number of participating schools.
“Last year, we had just a little under 100 schools that started right from the inter-schools, through to the zonals and the finals. But this year, we had over 200 schools. You could see that the interest in this particular event is picking up and that is what we are interested in. We haven’t gotten to where we want yet but this will be a gradual process.”
It will be recalled that Cowbell and the Ghana Education Service similarly partnered to organise the final of the 64th Independence Day celebrations on 12th March 2021 at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School at Legon.
Participants were treated to delicious and nutritious Cowbell drinks during and after the event.
Photo credit: Twist, Adisadel College
