2nd Lady commends Spelling Bee finalist

The Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has called on the youth in the country to take advantage of educational opportunities that abound in their areas seriously in order for them to become future leaders, because education is critical and key in na tion building.

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur gave the advice on Thursday 9th June 2016, when a 14-year-old Ghanaian Afua Ansah who was among one of the 45 finalists for the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee, together with Phoebe Naaki Odei who also won the national French Spelling Bee in Ghana called on her in her office.

Mrs. Matilda Amissah Arthur praised her for holding her nation’s flag high across the world, making the nation proud. Together with her sponsors, she said they have brought much honors, not just for Ghana, but for the continent.

she said as a Librarian, she was very proud to see them doing well ,especially Afua answering questions from reporters after being crowned as Ghana’s first ever finalist for such an event, and experiencing America for the first time, just as the Spelling Bee is experiencing a Ghanaian finalist for the first time.

She advised that Efua should be used as a role model for other Ghanaian children, so that they could emulate what she has been able to achieve in the area of education and as a spelling ambassador for the youth and future generations.

Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur said as Ghanaians we should celebrate Efua as a living testimony to encourage others, so that we would get more of her type as a nation .Adding that a reading nation is an informed nation.

As part of her educational reform agenda by encouraging school children to read, Mrs Amissah –Arthur donated some educational materials and a laptop to Afua and Naaki for the successes they have chalked.

Mrs. Amissah Arthur used the occasion to advise the youth not to allow deprivation to be an obstacle to their education and put in extra effort in learning in order to help add value to their lives.

She urged the youth to cultivate the habit of reading, saying “as you read, you learn good values and principles, which can help you, go far”. She also urged them to see themselves as the future leaders and use the opportunities at their doorsteps to learn hard and dream big must also be disciplined truthful honest in order for them to become responsible and better citizens in the near future .

Afua, after nearly acing her written exam on Tuesday, Afua easily spelled “hauberk” and “senescent” on Wednesday. And was one of 177 to spell both words correctly Wednesday, but based on examination of spellers on earned the second-highest score going into the finals.

Afua, and the other 44 finalists, took the stage with the beginning of the finals will which she didn’t Afua misspelled "Liechtenstein" and was out.

Thanking the Second Lady she said “It felt incredibly exciting, it was beyond my wildest dreams, to finally make it on my first try,” Afua said.

“It has been quite intense because we have been working on the word list for quite some time.” Afua said she looks forward to sharing the experience with her friends and family.

She further stated that she was feeling very proud to be doing this on behalf of my country,” Afua said. “I feel like an ambassador of Ghana so I am proud to carry the flag of my country at the finals.”

Accompanied by her coach Emmanual Afful, said he hopes that Afua’s success in the Spelling Bee is something that can inspire their African nation. And it was a very proud moment for him and he believed it has happened because of the years of hard work and determination,” Afful said. “I can’t explain how happy I am, but I am very proud.

They occasion was graced by the deputy Minister of Tourism Creative Arts and Culture Dzifa Gomashie ,General Manager of Multi Choice Ghana together with parents and well-wishers of the children.