Accra Academy wins debate

Accra (Greater Accra), 5 March '99 - The finals of the 42nd Independence Day debate for senior secondary schools was held in Accra yesterday with Accra Academy defeating Opoku Ware Secondary School by one-and-a-half points. The debate was organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation as part of activities to commemorate the Independence Day celebrations. It was aimed at involving students fully in the celebration and help them focus on national issues. Speaking for the motion "The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of the African Continent," Accra Academy representing southern sector schools scored seven-and-a half points while Opoku Ware Secondary which spoke against the motion, scored six points. The Principal Speaker for the motion, Master Noah Adablah, said the statement made by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of Ghana's independence is relevant because the African Continent lacks peace and unity and this has given rise to political instability. "How else can our independence be meaningful when prices of African goods are determined by the Western world. "What we need to do now is to unite as a people into a stronger force so as to forge ahead for development. United we stand, divided we fall." Master Michael Kottoh, Principal speaker against the motion, said the statement was relevant in the colonial days because pre- independence wars made Ghana's independence fragile at the time. He said Ghana has achieved a lot and this has never been through any efforts of other African countries. Master Kottoh added that through hard work Ghana can stand out as a great nation on the African continent. For their prizes, the victorious school and runner-up received a 29-inch and 25-inch colour television sets respectively. Each of the principal and supporting speakers received copies of the 1999 Guinness Book of records and a Chamber's English Dictionary donated by EPP Books Services. These prizes will be presented at the forecourt of the State House on Saturday, March six, by President Jerry John Rawlings.