The first Ghanaian representative at the finals of the Scripps Spelling Bee in the United States believes illiteracy and discrimination against women should end to create equal opportunities for all. 

Afua Ansah, 14, who beat the odds to become Ghana's first finalist in the competition in Washington arrived in Ghana, Wednesday. 

The student from Ridge Church School in Accra, made history when she made it to the top 45 of the competition told Joy News her love for reading took her that far. 

"The whole experience is simply terrific and surreal. The whole competition and being part of it was amazing," Ansah said. 

She advised young children to be interested in spelling stressing that the competition is not about winning, but there is so much to learn from the experience.    

"With the Spelling Bee, you get to meet new people with different backgrounds from different cultures. You make new friends and learn at the same time," excited Ansah said.

The National Spelling Bee coach, Emmanuel Afful said he was proud of Afua Ansah and believes children in Ghana are as capable as children anywhere and should, therefore, be supported.

"She is someone who is self-taught and widely read with an expansive vocabulary which makes teaching her easy," Mr. Afful disclosed.

He called on Ghanaian parents to support their children to read to build their capacity.

Afua's mother also urge other parents to encourage their children to read and "not to give up on them when they are not doing well in school and to support and encourage those who are doing well."

A stationery shop owner, Mrs Ansah said buying of books is not enough but they should be helped with their reading.

According to her, they had no government support and is calling on government to support the competition. She was grateful to Indomie who sponsored to some extent.