Ashaiman Senior High School and Accra Wesley Girls Senior High School were celebrated as top performers at the Speak Up 1.0 grand finale, an interschool debate and public speaking competition.

The event, which concluded on December 10, 2025, at the University of Ghana Business School, marked the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Organisers strategically used student voices to highlight critical issues of digital safety and responsible online conduct.

After several weeks of intense competition, Ashaiman SHS emerged victorious in the Debate Championship, with Ngleshie Amanfro SHS finishing as the first runner-up. Accra Wesley Girls SHS excelled in the Public Speaking segment, winning the Prepared Speech award, while Ngleshie Amanfro SHS claimed the Impromptu Speech title.

A total of six senior high schools participated in the initiative: Accra Wesley Girls SHS, Ashaiman SHS, Christian Methodist SHS, Ngleshie Amanfro SHS, O’Reilly SHS, and Amasaman SHTS. All were part of the Speech Club and Career Development Initiative, a pilot programme by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in collaboration with T-TEL and Speech Forces.

Mrs Constance Baba Boateng, Language Coordinator at the Greater Accra GES Directorate, emphasized the importance of debate and public speaking in developing responsible citizens. “Speak Up 1.0 supports our vision of raising confident, thoughtful, and responsible learners who can engage issues affecting their lives,” she stated.

Marjorie Tackie, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Coordinator at T-TEL, encouraged students to carefully consider their digital footprints and the consequences of online harm, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Mr Isaac Nyamekye Boakye, Director of Programs at Speech Forces, explained their focus on providing leadership development opportunities to students who may not typically have access to them. “By equipping these learners with public speaking, logical reasoning, and teamwork skills, we are nurturing future leaders with the capacity to influence society positively,” he said.

Organisers expressed optimism that Speak Up 1.0 has fostered a stronger sense of youth advocacy, empowering young people to use dialogue, creativity, and leadership to advocate for safer digital spaces throughout Ghana.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE