National Energy Quiz finalists tour GRIDCo, GOIL

Finalists of this year’s Nana Sir Ofori-Atta I National Energy quiz have had a feel of the practical experience of the operations of the power giants, Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and energy giants, Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) weeks after the final competition that saw Nkwatia Presby Senior High School grab the coveted prize as national champs.

The three finalists of this year’s quiz including Nkwatia Presby Senior High School, Asamankese SHS and Oyoko Methodist SHS visited the two as part of their prize package for placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Described as an integral part of the national energy quiz, CEO of Eastern Star Awards, Mr. Humphrey Tetteh said the visit formed part of efforts to offer the finalists of the competition practical insight into and demonstrate the practical operations of GRIDCo and GOIL to the understanding of the students.

All of the finalists visited the head offices of two of their sponsors as part of what organizers said were part of efforts to give them firsthand information about and expose them to key energy installations in the country as well as expose them to practical workings of the energy and industries.

Visibly excited to have a feel of what could ultimately be a practical understanding of the operations of the energy and power giants, the finalists were taken round the facilities of the two entities by officials of GRIDCO and GOIL.

At GRIDCo, the team visited the System Control Center, the Systems Operations Department and the Corporate Affairs Department to observe its practical operations.

Managers at these departments including Frank Okyere, Stephen Debrah and Ernest Senyo Mensah took the students through the operations of these units.
Officials of the two entities reiterated that they identify with the quiz with a purpose and were glad to come on board.

The Contestants also asked questions bordering on the operations of the two power and energy companies.

The event as part of its plans for the future to build the capacities of educational practitioners in energy education in the 21st century will also hold a special 2 day summit for over 500 policy makers, administrators, heads of second cycle institutions and teachers to properly equip them to produce power and energy savvy students.

He said regulators, political heads and policy makers in the power and energy sector will train these players on how to adequately prepare their students in the fields of energy and power to place them in an advantageous position to take advantage of these sectors.

Additionally, explained Mr. Tetteh are plans to hold an expo in the next edition of the event to create a platform for students to exhibit and showcase energy innovations and solutions with a cash prize of $500 for the winners of the best innovation.

As part of efforts to bring the competition into the homes of the general public, Mr. Tetteh disclosed that organizers have formed a technical team headed by the Director Of Technical Services At The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to televise the 3rd edition of the event to its viewers.

Nkwatia Presby Senior High school emerged winners at the 2nd Nana Sir Ofori-Atta I National Energy Quiz held on Thursday, 13th February, 2020 after beating Asamankese SHS and Oyoko Methodist SHS which placed second and third respectively at the end of four rounds of competition.

For their prizes, the winners with 59 points, took home a plaque and Ghc 2000 with second placed Asamankese SHS with 45 points taking home Ghc 1500 and third placed Oyoko Methodist SHS with 26 points also going home with a plaque and Ghc 1000.

The programme has gradually gained popularity among Senior High Schools and organizers hope to make the 3rd edition even bigger while fostering healthy academic rivalry among the schools.

From a humble beginning of just five schools in the New Juaben Municipal, the NEQ in its 2nd edition featured 82 schools and Mr. Tetteh said the competition would be extended to cover all regions of the country as it targets about 50,000 students to benefit from the event.

The NEQ which is designed to empower Senior High and Technical Schools with knowledge in the entire energy value chain including petroleum upstream and downstream, power generation, transmission and distribution, focuses on Power, Petroleum and Culture.

It equally aims at educating the youth in both Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on the energy sector.
The NEQ is sponsored by the Ghana Oil Company Limited, Ghana Grid Company Limited, the Energy Commission, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana National Gas Company Limited and the Petroleum Commission.

The annual competition which is run under the auspices of Nananom of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, is jointly organized by Eastern Star Awards Co. Limited in partnership with the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and coordinated in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Energy.