By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Ms Candy Nana Adwoa Okwan of the Achimota Basic School, Achimota-Accra and Ms Esi Abakah Owusu of University Junior High School (JHS), Cape Coast have emerged winners from their respective zones during the 2nd Master’s encounter (semi-final 2) of the 5th edition of the School Sanitation Solutions (Triple-S) Challenge.
The TripleS Challenge is an initiative of World Vision Ghana, (WVG) which is being organized in collaboration with the King Hall Media Limited, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Sanitation as well as GAMA SWP and the Zoomlion Foundation.
The 5th edition of the annual sanitation challenge which was launched on May 22, 2024 started with the publication of the invitation for entries, seeks to create advocacy, awareness and behavioral change among young people to improve sanitation situation in the country.
The second Masters’ Encounter (semi-final 2) took place at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, and had nine student participants from the Volta, Central, and Greater Accra regions (Southern sector) grouped into the Tilapia and Coconut zones for the challenge.
The students were challenged to give their ideas on the question, “If you were to participate in the Parliamentary or Presidential position, how would you prioritise sanitation and why”
At the end of the southern sector sections, Nana Adwoa Okwan pulled 200 points to beat four other competitors to emerged winner from the Tilapia zone while Ms. Abekah Owusu from the Coconut zone garnered 234 points to beat her closest competitor Chris Amaning-Ampong of the Mensin Gold Bibiani Ltd. Basic School, Bibiani in the Western North region who pulled 230 points to grab the sole slot for the finals dubbed Champions of Champions.
Also, the first masters’ encounter held in Sunyani focused on participants from the five Northern Regions; Ashanti, Eastern, Bono East and the Ahafo regions, divided into the Shea and the Cocoa zones with two finalists selected from each zone.
The four finalists one from each zone will proceed to the finals on September 23, 2024, at the National Theater.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with GBCGHANAONLINE, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist at WVG, Mr Yaw Atta Arhin, explained that following the official launch of the 5th edition on 22nd May, 2024, the challenge started with the publication of the invitation to submit entries in the Junior Graphic and other platforms.
“This publication contained all the relevant instructions, including the fact that the essays should be hand written with a word limit. There were also instructions on submission procedure.
All interested students (Primary 6 to JHS 2) were invited to first write an essay on the topic:
“Government, development partners and citizens are all concerned about the poor sanitation situation in the country. You are one of the presidential candidates in the December 2024 general elections. Kindly outline in your manifesto why and how you will reposition sanitation as a key driver of national development. What are your key proposals to improve the basic and environmental sanitation situation in the country?”
At the deadline for submission of entries, more than 1,000 valid entries were received from all over the country, with the exception of the Upper West Region,” Mr. Explained
According to him, the scripts were presented to carefully selected examiners – KWEKU QUANSAH (MSWR), VINCENT TAY (TREND), MARTHA TIA-ADJEI (Global Communities) and ODURO DONKOR (ProNet Accra).
He noted that the approach that proved quite beneficial was the involvement of National, Regional and District SHEP Coordinator in the process, particularly in the collection and submission of entries.
Zoom meetings he said were held with them to secure their buy in and support for a successful challenge this year.
“So here I wish to salute the Director of the SHEP Unit, Mrs. Theresa Oppong-Mensah, and Deputy Director, Mrs. Ellen Gyekye and all the Regional and District SHEP Coordinators who have supported in diverse ways thus far.
As has become the practice in the Triple S Challenge, the country was zoned into four (4) – Shea (Upper East, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Northern Regions) Zone, Cocoa Zone (Ashanti, Eastern, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions), Tilapia Zone (Greater Accra, Volta and Oti Regions) and Coconut Zone (Central, Western and Western North Regions).
Five (5) contestants from each zone were selected, out of which the Zonal Champion qualify for the Grand Finale (Battle of Champions) to be held at the National Theatre as part of a Children Sanitation Fair on Monday, 23rd September, 2024,” he reiterated.
