19th Japanese Language Speech Contest Held in Accra

On 14th March, 2015-The 19th Japanese Language Speech Contest was held at the Teachers’ Hall, Accra. Contestants were grouped into three categories; Under-15 years old children with no school experience in Japan or Japan School in Ghana, Above-15 years old persons with experience in Japan or Japan School in Ghana, and Above-15 years old persons with no experience in Japan or Japan School in Ghana. Contestants in this year’s Speech Contest were from Mary Star of the Sea International School-Kasoa, Care Guide Montessori-Gbawe, Accra, Good Shepherd Academy-Kasoa and ChristWay International School-Kasoa. Others were private students who are learning Japanese Language on their own or have private Japanese Language teachers, and persons who have stayed in Japan before, most of whom were in Japan to study through Japanese Government Scholarship.

There were some performances to entertain the audience as well; Japanese songs, Japanese rock music Manzai (Japanese Stand-Up Comedy).As interlude there was “Soran Bushi” dance by Mary Star of the Sea International School, as well as songs by all the participating schools and other contestants. Winners of the Speech Contest received various awards ranging from DVD player, CD player among others. All contestants were given consolation prizes and certificate of participation. Participating schools were given special awards for their participation in the Speech Contest. The Japanese Language Speech Contest is organised every year to provide opportunity for people learning Japanese language or can speak Japanese language to practise the language by competing among themselves with speeches.
The New Conference Hall of the Teacher’s Hall, where the Contest was held was filled to capacity by school children, members of the general public and some Japanese living in Ghana.
The occasion was graced with the presence of the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana H. E. Kaoru Yoshimura.
The Japanese Language Speech Contest is organised by JICA Alumni Association of Ghana (JAAGHA) in conjunction with the Embassy of Japan in Ghana. JAAGHA is an association of Ghanaians who went study in Japan on Japanese Government Scholarship through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).