St. John's School and St. Mary's Boys SHS will represent the Western Region in the semifinals of the 2024 National Public Speaking Competition.

This was after the two schools won their respective contests in the regional qualifiers held at Bogoso.

In a fiercely contested oratory battle, St. Mary's Boys SHS snatched the first slot after four of the archrivals.

They beat Tarkwa SHS, Daboase SHS, Sankor SHS, and Diabene SHS to keep their hopes alive for clinching the ultimate prize.

St. John's School sneaked into the next stage of the competition after crushing St. Augustine's SHS, Bogoso, by just a point.

They garnered 232 points, while their closest contenders had 231. Adiembra SHS and Bompeh SHS pulled 215 and 181 points, respectively.

The competition seeks to develop a new crop of leaders who will champion diplomacy to tackle societal issues.

It also aims at exploring innovative strategies, best practices, and actionable recommendations aimed at nurturing an environment conducive to peaceful, credible, and inclusive electoral processes.

By examining the interplay between historical legacies, socio-political dynamics, and contemporary challenges, the fifth edition of the National Public Speaking Competition under the theme “Building Bridges of Trust Towards Peaceful Elections in Ghana.”

This provides a platform for young people to advocate for the essence of effectively enhancing trust, thereby fortifying the foundations of democracy and fostering sustainable peace in Ghana.