UG Wins 3 Gold and Bronze Medals at 2022 PAUDC
The University of Ghana (UG) Debate Society has won three gold and bronze medals at the just ended Pan African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC) hosted by the Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya, from 8th to 15th December, 2022.
UG presented a team made up of Mr. Elisha Owusu Akyaw and Ms. Wesoamo Zempare in the debate stream. Ms. Lindsey Osei Bonsu and Debate Coach Lawrence Nii Kotey Neequaye represented the University in the adjudicating category.
The UG Team showed grit and resilience throughout the championship. Ms. Wesoamo Zempare and Mr. Elisha Owusu Akyaw progressed to the quarterfinal stage of public speaking as part of the top 3 public speakers while also breaking first as the best performing debate team on the continent with 24 out of a total of 27 points. Mr. Lawrence Neequaye and Ms. Lindsey Bonsu also progressed as adjudicators to the knockout stages of the tournament, with Mr. Lawrence Neequaye chairing the partial quarterfinals and quarterfinal rounds of debate.
Ms. Lindsey Bonsu (middle) adjudicating during the debate rounds
Team UG progressed further to the grand finale of debate, which had a team from Strathmore University, Kenya; Veritas University, Nigeria; and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. Team UG finished in third place, winning the bronze medal.
Ms. Zempare Wesoamo and Mr. Elisha Owusu Akyaw
Several individual awards went the way of UG, including those given to Ms. Wesoamo Zempare, who was awarded medals and certificates for overall 3rd Best Public Speaker from the preliminary rounds, Overall 5th Best Debater of the tournament, and the Best New Debater on the African continent. Mr. Elisha Owusu Akyaw received laurels for being the overall 2nd Best Public Speaker from the preliminary rounds, the Best Debater from Ghana, the Best Debater amongst the teams from the West African Sub-Region, Overall best Debater of the tournament and on the African continent. Coach Lawrence Neequaye was recognized as the competition's fourth best adjudicator.
Mr. Lawrence Neequaye stated that the championship's competitive run had provided them with valuable experience for the future. He commended them for their resilience and mental fortitude.
"We are most grateful to all stakeholders who made the competition a possibility, from the monetary support to the love and encouragement. For a team that did not have much time to prepare ahead of the tournament, I believe our performance and the great impact we had on the competition are testaments to UG being a force to reckon with in the debating world. Debate is a fast-evolving one, and this resilience and performance at this tournament enhance the reputation and spot of UG in debate and ensure that future contingents get to build from where the team left off. I particularly wish to commend the team of Mr. Elisha Owusu Akyaw, Ms. Wesoamo Zempare, and Ms. Lindsey Bonsu for their perseverance, commitment, and steadfastness throughout the entire campaign."