The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, HRM Nana Kobina Nketia V, has urged students across the Western Region to prioritise their education and avoid activities that could undermine their future ambitions.
According to him, young people must remain focused on their academic pursuits and refrain from engaging in negative behaviours that could derail their aspirations, stressing that education remains a key pathway for them to become responsible citizens and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Nana Kobina Nketia V, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, made the remarks while chairing the 11th edition of the annual Western Regional Inter-District Basic Schools Independence Day Quiz Competition held at Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West Municipality on Friday, March 13, 2026.
At the end of the keenly contested competition, Peace International School from Half Assini in the Jomoro Municipality emerged winners with 65 points. Tarkwa Goldfields School Complex placed second with 43 points, while Wood Bridge Academy from the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality secured third place with 32 points.
The quiz forms part of activities marking the region’s Independence Day celebrations and was initiated by the traditional leadership of the Western Region to promote academic excellence among basic school students. Fourteen schools representing various municipalities and districts participated in the contest.
The event, which climaxed with a colourful durbar of paramount and divisional chiefs, educationists, security personnel, clergy and corporate organisations, tested contestants in areas including Ghana’s pre-colonial and post-colonial history, pre- and post-independence developments, environment, chieftaincy and tradition, mathematics, science and current affairs.
Nana Kobina Nketia V also called on parents to invest time and resources in their children’s education to secure a brighter future for them. He assured that the region’s traditional leadership would continue to champion impactful initiatives that promote the development of the next generation.
The Vice President of the Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Lower Dixcove Traditional Area, HRM Nana Kwesi Agyeman IX, who attended the event as the special guest of honour, commended the contestants for the confidence they demonstrated throughout the competition. He also praised teachers for their dedication in preparing the students.
He further appealed to corporate organisations both within and outside the region to continue supporting programmes that help nurture and showcase the talents of students.
For his part, the Executive Chairman of the organising and planning committee and Paramount Chief of the Upper Dixcove Traditional Area, HRM Obrempong Hima Dekyi XIV, expressed appreciation to the various sponsors whose support ensured the success of the competition.
He noted that the quiz was designed to broaden students’ knowledge across several disciplines while encouraging them to learn more about their history and cultural heritage. He also expressed concern about what he described as the declining level of integrity among some Ghanaians and called on stakeholders to work together to instil discipline in the youth.
In other results, Socinaf School from Wassa East and winners of the 2025 edition placed fourth with 31.5 points, followed closely by Ghana-China Basic School with 31 points. Services School Complex – Sekondi-Takoradi and St. Augustinus School from the Nzema East Municipality followed in that order.
As part of the awards, the winning team received two laptops, two trophies to be shared between the school and the district Ghana Education Service Directorate, gold medals, tablets for the three contestants, as well as textbooks, exercise books, dictionaries, plaques and certificates.
The second-placed Tarkwa Goldfields School Complex also received two laptops, tablets for the contestants, dictionaries, textbooks, exercise books, silver medals, plaques and certificates, while Wood Bridge Academy received a laptop, bronze medals, tablets for the contestants and other educational materials.
Schools that placed fourth to fourteenth were also presented with prizes including textbooks, exercise books, dictionaries, student companions, mathematical sets, certificates and plaques.
