Debate
Background
Dating back to the commencement of the Bilateral Relationship between University of Ghana and University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Debate and Sports were the two components that survived to date. Thus in 2005 the UG Sports Directorate officially took oversight responsibility of all debate. In 2009 Debate was integrated into the Inter-Hall Games since 2009. Student Debaters at the UG Sports Directorate have the same privilege as Student Athletes.
University of Ghana Debate Society in Perspective
The University of Ghana Debate Society comprises of students of the university who share a common passion in debating and public speaking. The aim of the society is to promote the use of debate and dialogue as a tool for finding solutions to critical issues facing the society and to promote civil participation in our respective communities. In order to ensure efficiency and sustainability of our activities, UGDS was placed under the direct supervision of the University of Ghana (UG) Sports Directorate. For the past five (5) years, the Sports Directorate has supported and continues to support and facilitate intellectual discourses among students of the university.
In a short time, UGDS has built a reputation in the university, across the country and beyond. Since 2012, the society has been in the finals of all national debate championships, placing 2nd in 2012, and winning in 2013 and 2014. Members of the society have also won various individual awards in debate, adjudication and public speaking. On the international front, UGDS has represented the University in the annual Pan-African Universities Debate Championship since 2012 and its members have won many individual awards for the university. The society represented the university for the first time in the World Universities Debate Championship which was held in Malaysia from 27th December, 2014 to 4th January, 2015. In December 2015, the UG Debate Society, under the auspices of the UG Sports Directorate and in partnership with African Heights Foundation and other partners, hosted the 8th edition of the Pan-African Universities Debate Championship, dubbed LEGON 2015, where its members performed exceptionally, reach as far as the semifinal of the competition.
The Debate Society also organizes tournaments and events within the university. In 2014, the society instituted two notable annual debate championships within the university. They are the UG Freshmen Debate Championship, which targets the freshmen of the university and other students who do not have any prior experience in the British Parliamentary Style of Debate (which is the internationally accepted style of debate for tertiary institutions), and the most prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Debate Championship which gives members the platform to discuss pertinent issues in relation to the university, the country, the African continent and beyond. The Society instituted the Accra Open Debate Championship which is open to debaters across the country and beyond. With these championships, there is an aspect known as public speaking where participants speak on topics ranging from international to personal issues. The society also partnered various organizations such as the UG Student Representativ Council (SRC), UG Junior Common Rooms (JCRs) and Civil Society Organizations to organize public debates on campus. Some of our members do occupy leadership positions in various aspects and on different levels on campus.
As part of its social responsibility, the debate society has instituted a senior high schools debate programme dubbed “Debate Aboki”, through which volunteers are sent to various high schools in Accra to train students in debate, critical analysis and argumentation.
Join us each and every Monday and Friday at 8pm at Alex Kwapong Hall Room 4001.
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