The third edition of the Ghana Universities Debate Championship, which commenced from the 15th of June 2016, and hosted along the coast by the University of Cape Coast Debate Society, has ended successfully.
A total of 48 teams and 37 judges from 7 institutions registered to take part in the tournament.
University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana Institute of Management and Professional Studies (GIMPA), Zenith University College, Ghana Institute of Journalism, Islamic University College, University of Energy and Natural Resources, were the participating Institutions for this year’s Championships, under the theme; “Shaping The Next Generation of Leaders Through Intellectual Discourse”.
The tournament officially begun on 16th June, 2016 with the opening ceremony at The University of Cape Coast College of Science main auditorium, with various dignitaries representing each of the participating institutions gracing the event.
The ceremony was brief and the training sessions for both Debaters and Adjudicators followed immediately and simultaneously.
There was a mock debate with some participating debaters from the various institutions debating to help facilitate the Adjudication test which took place right after the training session for the participating judges of the tournament.
The ten rounds of debate focused on topics like the involvement of political parties in Universities’ SRC election, the use of enhancement drugs by sports personalities, the discussion of a proposed ban on social media by the police administration on Election Day among others.
Other topics were also the preference of foreign hospitals by African leaders and whether they should be banned, and the privatization the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), among others.
The debate rounds, commenced on the third day, 17th June, 2016, where the participants had the opportunity of engaging in three rounds of intellectual discourse and the first round of Public Speaking.
After an intense exercise, winners were awarded on the 21st June, 2016.
The awards ceremony was attended by the Paramount Chief of Cape Coast (Oguahene), Mr. Kwame Asare from the Management Committee of the University of Ghana Sports Directorate, Mr. Baah from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Mrs Juliana Osei, the Dean of Student Affairs – GIMPA.
List of award winners for the Ghana Universities Debate Championship (GUDC) 2016
Best Speaker from various institutions
• Theophilus Sakyi Sosi – UCC
• Nahaja Adams – GIMPA
• Patience Boateng Boatemaa – UENR
• Aurelia Attipoe – UG
• Belinda Boahin – KNUST
• Kabu Nartey – GIJ
• Al-Hadar Mumuni – Islamic University
• Ademola Adetola- Zenith College
Top 15 speakers of the tournament
• 15th – Barima Attuahene – KNUST
• 14th – Nahaja Adams – GIMPA
• 13th – Matilda Ansah – UG
• 12th – Shaffic Kwabena – UG
• 11th – Esinam Osei Bonsu – KNUST
• 10th – Jacob Johnson Attakpah – KNUST
• 9th – Michael Owusu Frimpong – UG
• 8th – Joseph Mireku – KNUST
• 7th – Benedict Nii Kraku – KNUST
• 6th – Boakye .N.Isaac – KNUST
• 4th – Tie: Elikplim Katahena & Aurelia Attipoe
• 3rd – Samuel Amoako Kusi – KNUST
• 2nd – Joel Telfer – KNUST
• 1st – Belinda Boahin — KNUST (Has won for the 3rd consecutive time)
Public Speaking
•5th – Jude Aggrey – UG
•4th – Valerie Adjei – UCC
•3rd – Nelly Gboegboe – KNUST
•2nd – Elikplim Katahena – KNUST
• 1st – Kabu Nartey – GIJ
Top three Adjudicators (Public Speaking)
•3rd – Frank Kwesi Hayford – KNUST
•2nd – Aurelia Attipoe – UG
•1st – Theophilus Sakyi Sosi — UCC
Top three Adjudicators (Debate)
•3rd – Abena Safoa Nyarkoa – GIMPA
•2nd – Samuel Assamoah – UG
•1st – Lorreta Borteley Bortey — KNUST
Final Debate
•3rd – Telfer Joel and Elikplim Katahena
•2nd – Jacob Johnson Attakpah and Benedict N. Kraku
•1st – Boakye N. Isaac and Samuel Amoako Kusi
About the Ghana Universities Debate Championship
The Ghana Universities Debate Championship was a great success as it brought together Universities across the country with a massive influx of students.
Despite the challenges and the introduction of a new debate setting, “Debate on the Streets”, it gave debaters that new environment for debating compared to the confined traditional setting to test the skills of participants.
For the third time running, the Ghana Universities Debate Championships was indeed “Breaking the Status Quo” in debate circles.
The Ghana Universities Debate Championships was successful with the support of African Heights Foundation and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
The African Heights Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, based in Accra, Ghana, dedicated to using the tools of education, advocacy and civic participation to raise leaders and active citizens excelling in various sectors of society in Ghana and Africa.
The Foundation aims at strengthening democratic values and increasing citizens’ participation in decision making processes and thereby contributing to improved policies and practices that affects people’s lives.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana