Asare Bediako Senior High School in the Adansi North District has emerged victorious in the 2024 World Environment Day (WED) debate competition organized by AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ghana Education Service.
The competition, which took place in Obuasi, started with a thrilling quiz competition involving 10 schools namely: Obuasi Senior High School and Christ the King Catholic, Edubiase SHS, Jacobu SHTS and Bodwesango, SHS Akrofuom SHTS, Dompoase SHS and Fomana T.I Amass, Asare Bediako SHS and Apagya SHS.
Asare Bediako SHS and Apagya SHS squared off in the debate competition after emerging winners in their respective competitions.
At the end of the gruelling contest held in Obuasi, Asare Bediako SHS had 83.3 points as against 81 points for Apagya Senior High school. The debate was on the topic: ‘The Fight Against Desserrtification can be won’.
Speaking to the media after the competition, Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, the Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti, said the competition was part of a collective effort towards commemorating World Environment Day and promoting environmental awareness among our youth.
She said the quiz competition, although an activity towards marking World Environment Day, was part of AngloGold Ashanti’s long-term initiatives to improve quality education in their host communities, to nurture the future leaders of Adansi.
On the expected outcomes, Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei said through this hybrid competition, organizers are not only improving general knowledge and fun learning methods, but also nurturing the oratory and public speaking skills of future leaders, a critical skill to possess in our global village today, as it provides young minds to develop critical thinking skills under pressure, while providing an opportunity to express their opinions, engage in thoughtful discussions with confidence.
Dr. David Azanu, Programmes Coordinator, Environmental Science Department of KNUST-Obuasi campus averred that the competition has given the participating schools the clue about how to protect the environment .
He said it was good to get the youth involved in the fight againat desertification and climate change.
“The youth are the future of every country, so getting them involved in a competition like this goes to show how stakeholders have taken the fight against environmental destruction seriously.”
Antwi Jacqueline, a contestant from Asare Bediako SHS, said the competition has given them more insight into the best possible way to protect the environment.
She, however, called on government to institute stringent measures to deal with those who destroy the environment.
” I am appealing to government to and other stakeholders involved in the fight against environmental pollution to put set up punitive measures to deal with those who destroy the environment. This will serve as deterrent to others.”
