Expectations were high at the start of the Eastern Regional contest.

Defending National Champions, Akwamuman Senior High School (SHS) had to compete with 12 other schools to retain their title.

By the end of Round One, the reigning champions were in a comfortable lead. But there was a threat, Islamic Girls SHS; Suhum determined to secure their slot in the national competition, followed Akwamuman SHS closely.

After hours of the nerve-wracking contest, it was time for the judges to collate their scores, and alas, there was a tie!

Akwamuman SHS and Islamic Girls SHS both scored 75 per cent at the end of the contest.

Chief Judge, Lilian Vester Nyarko, broke the tie with an oral test.

A true or false question posed to Islamic Girls SHS was the decider as the girls failed to answer the question correctly.

Finally, Akwamuman SHS was declared winner, with a 77 per cent scoreline.

Islamic Girls SHS also sailed through to the nationals with a 76 per cent scoreline,  as two slots were allocated for the Eastern Region in this year’s Onga Cook Art National Competition.

Each contestant received souvenirs from Onga, Ghana’s Number One seasoning.

Akwamuman SHS was given a cash price of ¢1000 sponsored by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to aid their preparations towards the national competition.

They will clash with seven other schools: Accra High School, Islamic Girls Senior High School, Shama Senior High School, Wesley Girls Senior High School, Archbishop Potters Girls SHS, Apam SHS, and Ola Girls SHs, who have all qualified to represent their regions in the 2022 Onga Cook Art National Competition.