The UMaT Basic School in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, has retained the title as champions of the fifth annual edition of the region's Independence Day Inter-District JHS Quiz Competition.

The competition was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 in Tarkwa.

The defending champions beat their closest contenders, Christ Leading International School, from Ellembelle with 82 points as against 77, while Peace International School from Jomoro Municipal came third with 76 points.

The winners took away a trophy, a brand new HP laptop, a canon three-in-one multipurpose printer, medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) to participants each, plaques and certificates.

The first runner-up, Christ Leading International School, received a brand new HP laptop, medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) for each participant, plaques and certificates.

Peace International School, from Half Assini in the Jomoro Municipal which placed third, also took away a brand new HP laptop, medals, textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) for each participant, plaques and certificates.

The S.I.P.L School from the Wassa East District placed fourth position with 69 points, while St Anthony Catholic School from the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal (EKMA) placed fifth with 60 points and St Augustinus Preparatory from Nzema East Municipal placed sixth with 58 points. They all received textbooks (Maths, Science, English and ICT) for each participant, plaques and certificates. The seventh to the eleventh positions all received plaques, certificates, textbooks, student companions and mathematical sets.

In all, eleven schools representing their respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), participated in the competition.

The criteria for participation were based on the performance of the 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The contestants were quizzed on issues about the history of Ghana (pre and post-colonial, pre and post-independence), chieftaincy and tradition, ICT, arts and culture, science and environment, sports and general knowledge.

The Regional Manager for Community Relations at Goldfields Ghana Ltd, headline sponsor of the 2020 quiz competition, Robert Siaw, lauded the organisers for initiating the competition.

“This is an educative programme as it seeks to test the students on Ghana’s rich history and current affairs,” he noted.