Duchess of Cornwall Africa empowers students

The Africa Head of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Mr. John Apea has attributed the success of Ghanaian and Africa students in the 2019 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition to HRH The Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia in 2018.

Speaking at a mini awards ceremony at the Junior section of Ghana International School, Mr. Apea who attended the event with Mrs. Claire Walker, wife of the British High Commissioner to Ghana and Advisory Board member of the Essay Competition in Ghana and Dr. Mary Ashun, Principal of Ghana International School, said:

"The fact that the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition was launched by the Duchess of Cornwall from Ghana - the first time it has happened outside Buckingham Palace - was significant”.

He added: “The children and everyone who met the Duchess instantly fell in love with her warmth, something that the press never mentions. She told the students that she hopes for a winner from Africa, and we delivered!”

This year, for the first time in the history of the Essay Competition, Elise Jensen from Ghana and Nnemdi Ozoemena from Nigeria won two of the four coveted prizes across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

Elise’s poem ‘A place you feel connected to’ is a vibrant, vivid celebration of her favourite elements of Ghanaian culture; a welcoming tale of food, dancing, clothing and the ties she feels to the country. Dr Diana Owen OBE, Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League and Chair of the Junior Final Panel, said of Elise’s poem, ‘A heartfelt hymn to Ghana, lively, bright, optimistic, playful and confident.’ Upon learning she was Junior Runner-up, Elise felt ‘very excited, surprised and very happy!’

Ozoemena’s story ‘Hello’ is the tale of two young people struggling with issues in their society who do not feel truly appreciated for whom they are but who find common ground and become friends, told through direct messages on Twitter. A Final Panel Judge described the piece as ‘a shop window of how youth are speaking to each other today’. On being named Senior Runner-up, she said "It feels really good to know that my portrayal of issues that I view as important was able to come through to people and hopefully make them feel something."

As a reward to winning the Essay Competition, both winners and their families have been invited to Buckingham to receive their awards from HM Queen Elizabeth II.

“I am very excited for the students. They have put Africa on the map. I would like to thank HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and her entire team, led by Amanda McManus, for really invigorating the students during the Africa tour.”