Sogakofe SHS Came Top To Represent Volta

File Photo

DKT international Inc. the NGO behind the No Yawa Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Education movement kick started the 2016 inter regional schools debate from the Volta region with eight selected second cycle school across the region as part of its closing activities.

With over 300 students gathered at the regional house of chiefs Hall on Friday, 19/02/2016 in Ho where the event took place. The participating schools were Sogakofe senior high, Ziope Senior High, Hohoe EP Senior High,Fodome Senior High, Vakpo Senior High and Akatsi Senior High Technical School.

The Motion for the first round “Exposing Ghanaian youth to sexual and reproductive health education has cause more harm than good “saw Sogakofe SHS(against the motion) come up against Ziope SHS(for the Motion), whiles Vakpo SHS (for the motion) came up against Fodome SHS(against the Motion), Akatsi SHTS(for the motion)against Hohoe SHS(against the motion) and the first round ended with Ziope SHS obtaining 29 points, Sogakofe 52 points, Fodome 30 points, Vakpo 46 points, Akatsi 37 points and Heps 45 points respectively making Sogakofe, Heps,Vasec,and Akatsi emerging the winners and qualifying for the second round of debate.

Round two started with theMotion“Sexual and reproductive health education must be incorporated into the school’s curriculum” which saw Sogakofe SHS (against the motion) coming up against Hohoe EP SHS (for the motion) whiles Vakpo SHS(for the motion) came up against Akatsi SHTS (against the motion) and at the end of the second round Sogakofe secured 48 points,Hohoe 44 points, Vakpo 44 points and Akatsi 42 points respectively taking Sogakofe SHS and Vakpo SHS into the finals.

The finals Motion was “The media in Ghana has promoted sexuality among the youth than discourage it” which saw Vakpo speaking against the motion and Sogakofe for the motion. It all ended with Sogakofe emerging overall winners of the completion to represent the Volta region in Kumasi with 50 points whiles the runner ups vakpo senior high came up with 44 points.

Miss Irene Addai from Hohoe EP SHS was adjudge the best debater for the day while Sogakofe took away a certificate,100 exercises books, school bags, pens, stickers, T-shirts from the organizers and a cash amount of Gh500.00. All the other schools benefited from exercises books, school bags, pens, stickers, and T-shirts.

Madam Doris Abayavor from the regional inspectorate unit of Ghana Education Services was the chair person for the event and advised the winners to work hard for the bigger task ahead of them since they will becoming against the other nine regions in Kumasi in June for the national competition.

Meanwhile Mr. Frank Alornyo, a regional community rep of DKT in the Ho-central zone thanked the school heads that allowed their students to take part in the competition and that they had really done well and encouraged them to form debating clubs on various school campuses

The southern fieldsoperation manager of DKT international Ms. Rosie Gbegnedji was full of praise for the schoolsthat took part in the competition encouraging the other schools to emulate them since this type of competition brings out the best in the students and grooms them into good public speakers in future.

she advised the winners not to give up or think because they have won the regional completion it will make then the eventual winners in June in Kumasi but rather study hard and to focus not only on debating skills but the content they will be presenting.

The No Yawa youth platform started in 2012 and has since educated in excess of 400,000 on their sexual and reproductive health rights with the focus on staying in school and making smart choices. The service educates students in schools, online, through youth friendly clinics, SMS services, in the field across the 10 regions of Ghana with 40 regional community reps, and uses a mix of interesting and educative media. For more information visit www.noyawagh.com or search for ‘noyawagh’ on facebook.