The Lamplighter Community Academy JHS has lamped its light to win the maiden edition of the the Annual Western North Regional Inter-district JHS Independence Day Quiz Competition.

The competition was held at Sefwi Wiawso on Thursday, March 5, 2020. In all twelve schools participated in the quiz competition for which each school represented one of the MMDAs making the region.

The preliminary stage saw eleven schools competing to justify their inclusion among the five schools that are to qualify and join the host school, Watico Demonstration JHS for the main Competition.

At the end of the preliminary stage, Enchi Roman Catholic School from Aowin, Lamplighter Community Academy JHS – Bia West, Life Education Complex – Bia East, Samartex School Complex – Amenfi West and Adjaka Manso Royal School – Amenfi Central qualified to join the host school for the commencement of the main Competition.

The subject areas were; History, Science, Agriculture, ICT and current affairs. At the end of the final round of the competition among these six schools, Watico Demonstration School the host scored 50points to place third, Enchi Roman Catholic secured the second position with 53points while Lamplighter Community Academy, the team dominated by females scored 56points to take the first position.

The second and third positions schools were awarded a prize of laptop, books, plaques, medals and certificate wheras the first position school was awarded with laptop, trophy, printer, books, plaques, medals and certificate. All the other schools were given certificate of participation.

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The sponsors pledged to continue with their support to make the program a fruitful one in the region. The directors and coordinators of education also hailed the program and vowed to play their respective roles to sustain the competition.

Addressing the event, the Western North regional Minister, Hon. Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu expressed his gratitude to all the participating schools and the organizing committee. He said that nananom of the planning committee has really demonstrated that “not only traditional affairs that they can champion, but like in the pre-colonial days, they can do almost everything and anything”.

And to the schools he said, “I must express my gratitude to all of you who participated and indeed it is heartwarming to see that a team which is dominated by females has performed wonders today. I am particularly Happy because when you come to this part of our country, you don’t see many of our females going higher and higher, so for a team dominated by females to done this great job, I’m so happy”, he said.

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He expressed his eagerness to support the school financially if he had gotten the financial muscles. “I wished I have that well withal to support you financially, and even if we cannot support financially, we will find the most befiting way to support you and especially given the location of your school”, he told the winning school.

The regional minister pledged the support of the regional coordinating council, “I won’t bore you with too much talk but in terms of support on the side of the government, and especially the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), we will also do our best to support such educative programs to flourish in our new region so that everybody will see that Western North Region yɛ wɔ adze a oye“.

While applauding the headline sponsors and the other sponsors of the program and urging them to continue with the gesture, he also called on other cooperate bodies and institutions to throw their wait behind the program for it has come to stay in the region.

It must be noted that it is the same organizers of the Western regional quiz competition that has extended the competition to the Western North Region.

Speaking to the media after the two days sperate quiz competition for the two regions, Nana Osei Nkwantabisa, the Nkosuohene of lower Axim Traditional Area and also the Executive Managing Partner of the planning committee gave an account of the event and the expectation.

“In the year 2015, the planning committee started an initiative, that is we started it on the Ahantaland and Nzemaland with four schools, and there were suggestions that we should try to expand it. So with the help of Obrempon Hima Dekyi XIV we expanded it to six districts and with his influence he also said that we should try to add other ancillary districts like Tarkwa-Nsuaem and other parts to that, and in view of that we managed to come to where we are now”.

He also said that the idea of coming to the Western North was suggested by the Vice President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, Omanhene of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area. Nana Nkwantabisa said, though there must be some lapses, in all the program is good and he is happy that it has come to a successful end.

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He thanked the sponsors, coordinators and the directors of education, the media and all stakeholders, for without them the program wouldn’t have seen the light of the day.

He explained that schools that emerge as the best in their districts in terms of the BECE for the previous year are being selected to participate in the competition, and hopes that in few years to come, the program will be the next competitor to the national science and math quiz program.

Story by: Sammy Junior|Radio Ahanta