UG CONQUERS THE WORLD IN WORLD UNIVERSITIES DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Some students and officials of the University of Ghana (UG) made Ghana proud at the 39th World Universities Debate Championship held at University of Cape Town, South Africa from the 26th December, 2018 to 4th January, 2019.
The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the largest debate competition in the world. First held in Glasgow in 1981, the WUDC has grown to include over 400 teams from 250 universities and tertiary institutions representing over 90 countries.
The UG contingent was made of five students, a Coach and a member of the Sports Advisory Board as the leader of delegation.
UG made its 4th appearance at the world championship after three successful participation in Malaysia (2015), The Netherlands (2017) and Mexico (2018).
Jeremiah wins Public Speaking
The President of the University of Ghana Debate Society, Jeremiah Kobby Sekyi was crowned the champion of Public Speaking making him the first Ghanaian to win this gong at the WUDC since its inception in 1981.
His first appearance at this competition was in Mexico last year where he managed to get to the semifinal stage. Jeremiah a level 300 Pharmacy student expressed his experience and feelings after the championship
“As President of the Debate Society, I have always promoted the idea that public speaking deserves equal attention as debate does, and that being a successful public speaker requires devotion and practice. Hence, being the WUDC Public Speaking Champion will not only enable me train others to achieve the same feat in the upcoming championships, but will also prove that anyone who commits to the society in that manner can achieve the same and much more.”
He thanked the Sports Directorate for facilitating their participation and supporting the team and added, in reciprocal responsibility, they will do their best as students to make UG proud wherever they represent the university.
University of Ghana also had Abigail Adepa Danso and Solomon Omani-Mensah as judges in the public speaking semifinals.
UG Debate Coach Elected as Council Chair
Ace Ghanaian and World Debater, Antonio Edem Asinyo was elected as the President of the World Universities Debate Championship Council. He had a total of 36 votes to beat Nisha Teleford of University of Birmingham, UK who had 24 votes. As President, he will be presiding over all pre council and council meetings and ensure successful implementation of policies.
The other elected executives are Julio Meyer (Mexico) Registrar, Tshiamo Malatjii (South Africa) Secretary, and Kerrin R-s (New Zealand) Equity Officer. Their mandate spans a period of 12 months.
Next WUDC
The 40th edition will be held at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand from December 2019 to January 2020.
Vice-Chancellor Pledges Full Support for Sports
Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor of University of Ghana has pledged full commitment for the promotion of sports in the University.
He made this assertion when the Debate and the Athletics Teams of UG together with Officials from the Sports Directorate paid a courtesy call on him to inform him of their exploits at the West African Universities Games in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Pan African Universities Debate Championship in University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the World Universities Debating Championship in University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu remarked that sports is an investment which yields great benefits, therefore the need to invest heavily in it. He advised the sports men and women to take sports seriously while excelling in their academics. He charged them to leave a legacy for the present generation and the next.