The Lamplighter Community School in the Bia West District of the Western North Region, has emerged Champions of the maiden edition of the region's Independence Day Inter-district JHS Quiz Competition.

They beat Enchi Roman Catholic Basic JHS from the Aowin District with 56 points as against 53, at the finals held on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Sefwi Wiawso.

Watico Demonstration School from the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly placed third with 50 points.

The winners received awards such as a trophy, a brand new HP laptop, a canon three-in-one multipurpose printer, gold medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) to individual participants each, plaques and certificates. The first runners-up, Enchi Roman Catholic Basic JHS, took away a brand new HP laptop, silver medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) to the individual participants each, plaques and certificates.

The Watico Demonstration also took away a brand new HP laptop, bronze medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) to individual participants each, plagues and certificates.

The Life Education School Complex from the Bia East District placed fourth with 49 points, while the Samatex School Complex from the Wassa Amenfi West District placed fifth with 46 points whereas Adjaka Manso Royal School came sixth with 44 points. Each individual participant received textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT), plaques and certificates.

The seventh to the twelfth placed schools all received plaques, certificates, textbooks, student companions and mathematical sets for all participants.

The remaining participating seven schools included Bethel Educational Complex from the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal, Dennis Foundation Academy from the Wassa Amenfi East, Bodi Roman Catholic JHS, Dadieso Pentecost School from the Suaman District, Kawu Akpafu D/A JHS from the Akontombra District and the Juaboso B’ JHS Basic School from the Juaboso District.

The competition was sponsored by Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Ltd, Agroecom Ghana Ltd, Samatex Timber and Plywood Company Ltd, Westfield Ltd, Top Quality Investment Ltd, Adwumapa Cocoa Buyers Ghana Ltd, Engineers & Planners Construction Ghana Ltd and Cocoa Merchants.

The criteria for participation were based on the performance of the 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) with the contestants being quizzed on issues about the history of Ghana (pre and post-colonial, pre and post-independence), chieftaincy and tradition, ICT, arts and culture, science and environment, sports and general knowledge.

In his address, the chairman for the occasion, Nana Kofi Samah, Divisional sub-chief of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, who represented Katakyie Kwasi Bumangaman II, Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, lauded the organisers for initiating the competition aimed at promoting education in the region.

He stated, the traditional council will continue to support education by partnering stakeholders to promote activities in the sector.

On his part, the Western North Regional Minister, Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, in his keynote address commended sponsors of the maiden edition of the competition, for their overwhelming support towards education in the region and called on other corporate bodies to emulate and support in subsequent events.

Mr. Aboagye-Gyedu who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency, congratulated the contestants from participating schools and their teachers, for demonstrating their academic intellects throughout the competition. He urged them to remain focus in their educational endeavours to enable them to become useful citizens in future.

“The annual quiz competition which has come to stay, will go the long way to improve healthy competition among schools as well as project the image of the region at large,” Aboagye-Gyedu said.

Senior Divisional Chief of Otupai in the Lower Axim Traditional Area of the Western Region, Nana Awuza III, who represented the Executive Chairman for the planning and organising committee, HRH Obrempon Hima Dekyi XIV and Paramount Chief of Upper Dixcove Traditional Area, explained, the competition was designed to help develop the abilities of contestants and also inculcate in them how to work as a team.

He also commended the sponsors for contributing towards the successful organisation of the quiz programme.

The Human Resource and Community Relations Manager of Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Ltd, Thomas Nyarko-Danquah, emphasised his outfit's commitment towards education, hence their participation in the programme.

“This is an educative programme as it seeks to test the students on Ghana’s rich history and current affairs,” he said. He added that education holds the key to development and that was the primary reason Kinross Chirano Gold Mines agreed to sponsor the program.

Head of Communications of Agroecom Ghana Ltd, Seth Hammond, commended the traditional leaders for their key role in championing education which falls in line with his company’s vision.

“Agroecom is committed to promoting education and will continue to support similar future endeavours,” he said.

On his part, Municipal Chief Executive for Sefwi Wiawso, Louis Owusu-Agyepong, commended the organisers for putting together such a program to improve the performance of pupils in the various districts in the Western North Region.

He noted that promoting the historical values of Ghana through education, quiz competitions among the basic schools, is a major key for the growth and development of the country.

He urged all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as well as directorates of education in the various district across the Western North region, to enforce measures that promote the teaching and learning in the Region.

Western Regional Director of Education, Addo Dankwa Akuffo, whose speech was read on his behalf, applauded the participants for their active participation and as well as the sponsors, for supporting the educational sector.