World Vision Ghana sets criteria for 2026 School Sanitation Solution Challenge

World Vision Ghana, in partnership with Kings Hall Media Limited, Ghana Education Service/SHEP, and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has set out the criteria for the 7th School Sanitation Solution Challenge (Triple S).

The competition opened to Ghanaian pupils from primary 6 to Junior High School form two and serves as a national response by the partners to the poor environmental sanitation and waste management situation in the country.

The Challenge seeks to harness the creative potential of children in finding solutions to the environmental sanitation and waste management challenges around them.

The specific objectives of the Triple S Challenge are to encourage children to cultivate keen interest in issues of environmental sanitation in Ghana, and to challenge children to become sanitation-conscious and agents of change, influencing their peers, families, and communities.

The others are to build the capacity of children to co-create sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them and to empower children to advocate for improved environmental sanitation themselves.

The 2026 Triple S Challenge essay topic is “Ghana’s sanitation situation is generally poor. Meanwhile, sustained behaviour change by citizens has been identified as the ingredient required to address the country’s poor sanitation situation.

“As the Child Sanitation Diplomat, what practical recommendations will you make to achieve behaviour change towards improved sanitation in Ghana?" Mr. Yaw Attah Arhin, World Vision Ghana WASH Technical Specialist, told Modern Ghana News.

According to the criteria, all essays should be handwritten by the candidates themselves, and if a script is shortlisted, the pupil will be required to verbally defend it before a panel of experts at the Masters Encounter.

“Your essay, written in the English language, should be legible and should not be more than 1,500 words long. Every point you raise should be clearly explained or articulated,” the World Vision Ghana WASH Technical Specialist stated.

Mr. Attah Arhin explained that each pupil submitting an essay must write clearly at the top of his or her long foolscap sheet: full name; name of school, town, district, and region where the school is located; and telephone number of class teacher as well as the telephone number of a parent or guardian.

He explained that all entries must be endorsed by a parent/guardian, put in an envelope, and addressed to the Coordinator, School Sanitation Solutions Challenge, World Vision Ghana, Accra.

“Your entry may be hand-delivered at any World Vision Ghana office in the country, including the Head Office at No. 3 Kotei Robertson Street, North Industrial Area, North Kaneshie, Accra.

"Entries may also be submitted to any school-based SHEP Coordinator or a District or Regional SHEP Coordinator at the GES District or Regional office. Entries may also be submitted at the National SHEP Unit at the GES Headquarters in Accra.

“You may also submit your script by post to the Coordinator, School Sanitation Solutions Challenge, World Vision Ghana, Private Mail Bag, Accra, or deliver it by courier service,” he stated.

Mr. Attah Arhin said the deadline for submission of entries is 11:59 pm on Friday, 24th July, 2026; entries received after this deadline will not be considered.

According to the criteria, the competition goes through various stages. In round one, tagged as the common contest, every interested contestant submits an essay by the stated deadline.

Five best entries from each of the four zones—SHEAR Zone, COCOA Zone, COCONUT Zone, and the TILAPIA Zone—will be shortlisted for the Masters Encounter at round two.

At round two, tagged as the masters encounter, the 20 shortlisted contestants (5 per zone) will be invited to verbally defend their scripts before a three-member panel of experts at a public forum at a designated location, which will be communicated later.

The best contestant from each zone will be selected by the panel of experts for the Grand Finale, also referred to as the Battle of Champions.

At the grand finale scheduled for Monday, September 21st, 2026, at the National Theatre in Accra, the four zonal champions will be invited to participate in the Battle of Champions.

The Grand Finale and Children's Sanitation Festival will be telecast live on radio and television and streamed live on Facebook.

According to the organizers, each of the 20 contestants who qualify for the Masters Encounter will receive a certificate and attractive prizes.

At the Battle of Champions, the overall winner takes home a plaque, a laptop computer, a tablet, a cash prize, educational materials, and attractive prizes for his/her school.

The overall winner is decorated as the Child Sanitation Diplomat and supported by the partners to implement a one-year sanitation project, leading Ghanaian children to advocate and promote improved environmental sanitation and waste management in Ghana. The Diplomat will also have the opportunity to embark on an international study tour.

The 1st runner-up takes home a plaque, a tablet, a cash prize, educational materials, and attractive prizes; the 2nd runner-up takes home a plaque, a tablet, a cash prize, educational materials, and attractive prizes; and the 3rd runner-up takes home a plaque, a tablet, a cash prize, educational materials, and attractive prizes.

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