2022 Ghana Universities Debate Championship Launched
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has launched the 8th Ghana Universities Debate Championship to be hosted by the University of Ghana from 10th to 17th October, 2022. The championship will be under the theme "Thinking Global, Acting Local; Celebrating Excellence While Shaping the Future." The launch took place during the finals of the 8th Vice-Chancellor’s Debate Championship (VCDC) held at the Great Hall, University of Ghana.
In his welcome address, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, Director of Sports, University of Ghana, expressed his gratitude to University Management and staff who have played various roles in making the VCDC an enviable championship over the years on the UG Campus. He also noted with ecstasy, the presence of other sister universities who for the first time joined in celebrating the prestigious debate competition on UG Campus. Dr. Bitugu observed that other sister universities have emulated the structure of debate governance at UG.
The Director of Sports officially unveiled the logo for the championship, explaining the various elements which encapsulate the rich history of debate in the University of Ghana, in particular and Ghana as a whole since the first competition was hosted by the University in 2014.
In her speech, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, expressed her excitement at gracing the finals of the most prestigious debate competition on campus and to launch the 8th Ghana Universities Debate Championship (GUDC) which coincided with the celebration of the University’s 75th Anniversary.
Launching the Championship, the Vice-Chancellor remarked the timeless relevance of debate and discourse over the years and the excellent work the Debate Society, under the management of the Sports Directorate had been engaged in through creating an environment for discourse and grooming a generation of students who speak up and contribute to the development of society. The Vice-Chancellor further commended the members of the Sports Directorate, alumni and students who had won several laurels and accolades that had brought glory to the University.
She noted the motion for the VCDC finals ‘This House Supports the decommissioning of traditional halls of residence involved in violent clashes...’, as very apt and would inform decisions of University Management.” She emphasised the vision of the university to become a world-class research-intensive university, and her personal goal as Vice-Chancellor to train students who are critical thinkers, technologically adept, humane, culturally sensitive, and ready to provide leadership for Ghana and the continent.". According to her, the Debate Society creates the enabling environment for achieving the goal.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo further reiterated the unequivocal support of the university for the fostering of debate on campus and entreated all present to make the championship an unforgettable experience for guests, the youth, the University of Ghana, Ghana Universities Debate Association, the nation and the African Continent.
The 8th Vice-Chancellor’s Debate Championship ended after seven preliminary rounds of exhilarating and stimulating debate and three preliminary rounds of exciting public speaking, with students clinching several awards. Masters Fiifi Kobea Mensah and Abdul Fattaw Anum were named third- and second-best judges in the public speaking stream, respectively, with Miss Wesoamo Zempare named best judge. In the debate category, Miss Lindsey Bonsu and Mr. Henry Quansah were adjudged 3rd and 2nd best judges, respectively, with Mr. Abdul Mutalib Idrissu winning the best adjudicator award.
The final round of public speaking saw Messrs. Elisha Owusu Akyaw and Nana Kwame Ofori-Henaku awarded the prizes for 3rd and 2nd best public speakers, with Miss Emmanuella Gyimah emerging as the overall public speaking champion for the tournament. In the debate finals, Abdul Fattaw Anum and Elisha Owusu Akyaw emerged victorious as overall debate champions, making it a back-to-back win for the team since the last edition of the tournament in 2021.
Present at the ceremony were the Registrar, UG, the Directors of Finance and Public Affairs Directorates, the Dean of Student Affairs, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), members of the Local Organizing Committee, 2022 GUDC, the Debate Club of PRESEC, Legon, staff of the Sports Directorate, and members of the University Community.