The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Sunday emerged as ultimate winners of the Eighth Ghana Universities Debate Championship, for the fifth time.
Represented by Kohl Acheampong and Kelvin Asamoah Damptey, the University, beat stiff competition from 12 universities including the host university and defending champions, the University of Ghana, to emerge “Open Winners”.
The KUNST team received a trophy at the grand finale.
Until this year’s victory, KNUST had won the debate from 2015 to 2018.
The event, under the auspices of the Ghana Universities Debate Association (GUDA) in collaboration with the UG Sports Directorate was on the theme, “Thinking Global, Acting Local: Celebrating Excellence while Shaping the Future.”
Other winners on the night included Emmanuella Gyimah who grabbed the Public Speaking prize while Kelvin Damptey and Wesoamo Zempare came second and third respectively.
For the Public Speaking Adjudicators category, Rodger Mac Scott-Lutterodt was the winner while Archimedes Donkor and Wisdom Ndukwe came second and third in that order.
The Open Adjudicators top prize went to Jessica Afi Fayose with Lindsey Bonsu and Abu Sulemana Mohammed followed with the second and third positions respectively.
The Novice Adjudicators category was won by Rachael Otiko Tettey with Raphael Adjei and Edwin Winston coming second and third in that order while Team Ngleshi Amanfro represented by Mary Sowah and Fafali were the novice winners.
All winners received medals and certificates.
A patron of GUDA and Head of the UG Sports Directorate, Dr Bello Bitugu congratulated the winners and participants for making the event highly competitive and successful.
He urged students to utilise the knowledge and experience they acquired from the debate championship to contribute to changes in their communities.
“The discussions and information gathered should not be only for the sake of the debate alone but practice everything that have been learnt to impact on society. Go into the communities and impact knowledge by sharing what you have learnt with others,” he said.
Dr Bitugu also admonished them to respect time as it would help them to become responsible leaders in future.
The elements of teamwork, leadership and coordination he said, should be incorporated into daily activities of students to ensure they become great leaders in future.
“At a point, the talking must end and action must begin as we work together to transform the country for the better,” he added.
Dr Bitugu also inducted new executives of GUDA into office and urged them to carry on the mantle from their predecessors and deliver.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
