Imagine an event on the senior high school calendar where school bands compete from the regional level all the way to the nationals. A music competition that doesn’t just entertain but educates, grooms talent and gives value to an often-overlooked part of our educational system.

This thought struck me when I realised the Ashanti Regional Directorate of Education had followed the example of the Central Region by organising a music festival for senior high schools in the region.

This came after the Central Regional Directorate’s resplendent inter-schools music festival in April 2025 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, with Mozano College of Music taking the ultimate prize. 

The event, which was the third edition, generated a lot of excitement on social media and sparked conversations about how initiatives like this could help boost interest in music among students. It gave a refreshing sense of possibility; that music in schools doesn’t have to be a side activity or an afterthought.

The successful Ashanti Region’s maiden edition, held on 2nd July 2025 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, has further intensified calls for a possible national version of this event.

It was heartwarming seeing young people from both regions play various musical instruments and perform different genres of music. What stood out even more was their deliberate choice to spotlight highlife, regimental music and Ghanaian pop music. It wasn’t just performance for performance’s sake; there was cultural pride and identity in every note.

This could serve as an incubation platform for nurturing great musical talents across the country. More importantly, it could be a means of restoring respect and dignity to the arts in our schools. A well-structured programme like this fits perfectly with the new senior high school curriculum, which gives prominence to the study of Creative Arts and Music.

As someone who has taught music and art before, and continues to advocate for arts education, I believe what the Central and Ashanti regions have started deserves national attention. It must be replicated in other regions, not as a one-off activity but as a well-coordinated annual event that culminates in a grand national competition.

The Ministry of Education can make something remarkable out of this if it partners with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Black Star Experience Secretariat, the Musicians Union of Ghana and other stakeholders. With strong corporate sponsorship and solid media support, this could become a national staple.

Honestly, the National Science and Maths Quiz has done a great job in spotlighting academic excellence. But imagine if we gave the same or similar national spotlight, production value and public engagement to a Senior High School Music Competition. The creative industry would be better off. We would not only be discovering young musicians; we would also be creating a culture that values artistic expression just as much as scientific and mathematical brilliance.

This could be a revived and amplified version of the various pop chain concerts we have had since the 1960s.

Beyond performance, music education has psychological benefits. It improves memory, boosts confidence, encourages teamwork and nurtures discipline. These are qualities that cut across all professions and life paths.

Economically, a strong foundation in music can lead to viable career paths in performance, music production, education, sound engineering, and more. In a country where youth unemployment is a pressing issue, empowering students through arts-based education could be a game-changer.

So here’s my plea to the powers that be: let’s think beyond the classroom. Let’s harness the full potential of our students by creating platforms where their talents in music can shine. 

Let’s have a national Senior High School Music Competition, not just for the fun of it, but for the future of our creative economy.