First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has re-echoed her commitment to improve literacy in children in the country.
Her assurance follows the brilliance exhibited by the Spelling Bee participants, having interacted with them ahead of the competition.
“I am still fascinated by the sheer brilliance of these young ones, and it is clear from my interactions with them that the Spelling Bee competition has had a positive impact on them in terms of confidence and articulation,” she said.
She reaffirmed her commitment to improving literacy in Ghanaian children, and discussed ways in which Spelling Bee Ghana can collaborate with the Rebecca Foundation’s Learning to Read Reading to Learn Initiative to extend the principles of Spelling Bee to more Ghanaian children.
Mrs Akufo-Addo made the remark when she received winners of this year’s Spelling Bee competition at her office yesterday.
She further commended organisers of the Spelling Bee, Young Educators Foundation, for such an excellent programme.
Winners
In all, 10-year-old N’Adom Darko-Asare, a pupil of DPS International Ghana, won the 2022 Spelling Bee competition with the championship word “BATHYPELAGIC.”
Also, 10-year-old Nii Odartey Elorm Manyo-Plange, of The Roman Ridge School, emerged first runner-up, with Aarna Bhaveshkumar Tailor, 11, from the DPS International Ghana, Tema, being the second runner-up.
The finals of the competition witnessed 115 total participants commencing in the first round, with scores falling out in subsequent rounds until the 12th round that had the three finalists spelling their way through.
Both Nii Odartey and Aarna missed their final words, but got to be named finalists based on points accrued from their performance.
For her prize as the champion, N’Adom Darko-Asare won a trip to Washington DC, USA, to represent Ghana at the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee, $500 spending money, an engraved trophy, a fully installed DStv Explora decoder with a 6-month subscription, Indomie products, a gold medal, and GH¢300 Goil fuel vouchers.
Nii Odartey Elorm Manyo-Plange won a trip to Nairobi, sponsored by Kenya Airways, $150 spending money, a fully installed DStv HD Zapper decoder with 3 months compact viewing, Indomie products, a silver medal and GH¢150 Goil fuel vouchers.
Aarna Bhaveshkumar Tailor also won a trip to Nairobi, sponsored by Kenya Airways, $150 spending money, a fully installed DStv HD Zapper decoder with 3 months compact viewing, Indomie products, a bronze medal and GHC150 GOIL fuel vouchers.
All other spellers were given a certificate of recognition, Indomie products, customised T-shirts, commemorative medals, a customised bag and novels donated by the PAS-US Embassy, while the top three winners’ schools each received a certificate of recognition, GHC1,000 fuel vouchers sponsored by GOIL.
Spelling Bee
The Spelling Bee -Gh is a literacy programme targeted at primary school children in Ghana. It teaches them how to use the English language effectively.
Over the past 14 years, the Scripps Spelling Bee-franchised programme has been running in Ghana. It has impacted over 30,000 students throughout the then 10 regional capitals of the country.
The Spelling Bee-Gh operates an inclusive policy where students with special needs are supported to participate in the programme.
In line with that, the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf in Adjei Kojo, has been receiving support from The Spelling Bee to participate in the programme and incorporate sign language in the oral competition.
