A primary six pupil of the University of Cape Coast Basic School, Angel Ankamah Arhin, has emerged the second runner up in this year’s World Spelling Bee competition.

The 11-year-old emerged the winner in the national competition, was first in Africa and placed third in the world competition held in Dubai.

By this feat, Master Arhin becomes the first African and for that matter school pupil to win such a prestigious award.

He received trophies, a certificate of participation and medals from organizers of the competition.

The University of Cape Coast (UCC) in a Facebook post said the award winner on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, presented the trophies to the Management of the school.

The post stated: “Angel Ankamah Arhin, a primary 6 pupil of the University Basic School, represented Ghana at the International Spelling Bee contest in Dubai.

"He came 1st in the African contest and 3rd in the world contest.”

A team led by Mr. Kofi Sekyiama Pobee, the coordinator who spearheaded the sponsorship for the boy, presented the award to Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan.

Mr. Sekyiama Pobee, thanked the Minister for her support and called on the Ghana Education Service to institute a scheme to support pupils who may participate in such international competitions because the honour eventually would go to the country.

He was full of praise for Master Arhin’s lead coach, Francis Grant Mensah for his resilience which brought the ‘boy this far’ and asked for more of God’s blessings for him.

The Minister encouraged the award winner to let the achievement propel him to do more in order to excel in his academic pursuit.

“Your performance represented the power of your brain which is worth celebrating. This is to encourage the younger generation to learn from your achievement,” she told the award-winner.

She further encouraged parents to invest in their children’s education since they are the future leaders to steer the affairs of the country.

On his part, the Headmaster of the UCC Basic School, North Campus, Victor Addison, called on parents to support their children to read to unearth their potentials.