SUTESCO and Kibi Presbyterian College of Education win maiden JB Danquah Quiz and Debate Competition

A student of Kibi PCoE receiving an award from Mawerehene of Akyem Abuakwa traditional area, Barima Yaw Oppong Krodie

Suhum Senior High Technical School SUTESCO and Kibi Presbyterian College of Education emerged winners of the maiden JB Dankwah Inter Senior High Schools Quiz and Inter Tertiary Institution Debate competition, organised under the auspices of the Twafohene of Akyem Abuakwa, Okatakyie Boakye Danquah Ababio.

The first-ever quiz and debate competition, organised in collaboration with the Danquah Institute, was held to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the late JB Danquah.

The event brought together several schools within the Akyem Abuakwa enclave to test their advocacy skills, reasoning abilities and clarity of thought on contemporary national issues. At the end of the senior high school quiz competition, SUTESCO emerged overall winners after a keen contest, beating close rivals Abuakwa State College, Ofori Panin Senior High School and Begoro Presby Senior High School.

In the tertiary category, Kibi Presbyterian College of Education, which hosted the competition, defeated the University College of Environmental and Agricultural Studies to win the coveted award.

Addressing the contestants, Okyehemaa Her Royal Majesty Aberewa Dokua, who chaired the event, said the theme, " Celebrating the Intellectual Legacy of Dr Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah: Inspiring Scholarship, Patriotism and Constitutional Thought in a New Generation", was appropriate and timely, stressing the need to inculcate patriotism in the younger generation and to inspire them through service to the nation.

"The theme for this event I believe, has been carefully chosen to reflect who JB Danquah truly was and I am honored to have been selected to chair this maiden quiz and debate competition as well. Our illustrious son JB Danquah served his nation, people with diligence and commitment the youth must know that the is pride in patriotism and we need more of the generation unborn to exhibit the leadership style and traits of JB Danquah, service and give their all to the nation."

A Justice of the Court of Appeal and Mawerehere of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Barima Yaw Oppong Kodie, was the special guest. He urged the youth to consider law as a profession, regardless of their chosen field of study.

"As we picking up our professions I will urged you all to consider law and it doesn't matter whether you are a scientist, you are into agriculture or you are a pharmacist you can still have some knowledge in law to help you as you advance yourself in the course of the work you are to do on earth because at the end of the day they will ask what does the law says."

He further pledged his support for students who aspire to pursue law and called on traditional leaders to emulate the positive values demonstrated by JB Danquah.

"Nanahemaa, we need to emulate the good things JB Danquah did a no d on that note I will continue to support any student with the desire to persue law and promise to be available to help the young ones at least acquire a profession in law and I will always be available if you ask me to do anything infederance of this promise so we should start adopting those who will do well in this competition in the best way we can."

Partners of the competition, the Danquah Institute, also challenged the youth to appreciate tradition and the sacrifices of the founding fathers. The Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Dr Antoinette Tsiboe Darko, said many young people take individual freedom and liberty for granted.

"One of JB Danquah's strongest believe was individual freedom and liberty and I think a number of us do not understand what it means to have individual freedom and liberty but the best example we can share is what we are doing right now, I mean the freedom of me to speak to the media comes from people like JB Danquah who spoke and said it's important and necessary that if you want the individual to be free you must first give them their freedom, speak you part."

Head of Events and Programmes at the Office of the Twafohene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Gideon Kwasi Annor, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the event and indicated that future commemorations of JB Danquah’s legacy may not be limited to Kyebi.

"This is not a political event but the whole essence of this quiz and debate competition is to set aside a day to remember their exploits of the statesman, a lot of people have reached out to my office indicating that we should not let the celebration of JB Danquah be concentrated in Kyebi so going forward we may consider the Central Region to host this competition."

In the individual awards category, Gloria Donkor received the H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Award for Outstanding Advocacy and also won the Okatakyie Boakye Danquah Ababio Award for Distinguished Intellectual Performance. Agyei Benedicta received the Aberewa Dokua Award for Outstanding Female Intellectual Excellence, while Abuakwa State College ABUSCO won the Danquah Institute Award for the focused round of the J B Danquah Inter Senior High School Quiz.