It was a fierce competition between 11 schools selected from the Volta and Oti regions.

They had to battle it out to represent Zone 5 at the 2022 Onga Cook Art National Competition.

Reigning regional champions, Sogakope Senior High School (SHS), had a good start in the orals, but then Our Lady of Apostles Girls Senior High School matched the defending champions booth for booth equally acing their theory questionnaire in round 2.

It was then time for practicals; students had two hours to prepare any meal of their choice.

The judges paid particular attention to contestants cutting skills, table arrangement, neatness, creativity and use of the secret ingredient! Onga!

At the end of the contest, it was a painful defeat for reigning regional champions Sogakope SHS as they lost their crown to Ola Girls SHS with just a point difference.

Ola girls SHS led the pack with 78 per cent while Sogakophe SHS followed closely with 77 per cent.

New entrants Keta Senior High School placed third with 73.5 per cent.

Chief Judge Lillian Vester Nyarko said, “though the competition was tough, the final lap was the presentation of the meal, and the taste of the food was the major decider”.

Each contestant walked home with souvenirs from Onga.

New regional champions Ola girls SHS were handed a cash price of GHC1000 sponsored by the Ghana education service to aid their preparations towards the Onga Cook Art national competition.

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