In commemoration of a week-long celebration aimed at fostering cultural enrichment and preserving Ghana’s heritage for Africa’s Renaissance, the Ghana Culture Forum orchestrated an inter-school debate, held at the Accra Tourist Information Centre on March 12, 2024.
The event showcased selected senior high schools engaging in spirited discourse on contemporary cultural issues, solutions, and challenges confronting the nation’s way of life.
Addressing the audience at the onset, Dr. Amakye Boateng, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Music and Chairperson for the debate, emphasized the imperative of safeguarding Ghana’s rich cultural ethos amidst the tide of globalization.
The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Sandra Akyamaa Boateng, representing Accra Girls Senior High School, took the stage as the principal speaker, advocating for the motion, “Preserving Tradition Versus Embracing Modernity: The Key to Ghana’s Renaissance?”
Sandra championed the embrace of modernity, citing the interconnectedness of the contemporary world and the necessity of digitizing cultural promotion.
In opposition, Mahama Abdul-Bassit, the lead speaker for St. Thomas Aquinas, electrified the audience with his impassioned defense of preserving tradition to rejuvenate Ghana’s cultural heritage. Drawing thunderous applause, Mahama highlighted how the erosion of traditional values, exemplified by the decline in traditional attire among Ghanaian women, underscores the urgency of cultural preservation.
The intensity escalated in round two as Joanna Kukah of Labone Senior High School and Gertrude Sowah of Nungua Senior High School sparred over the motion, “Should Ghana Prioritize the Global Dissemination of its Cultural Capital?” Amidst compelling arguments, Joanna’s eloquence propelled Labone Senior High School to the final showdown against St. Thomas Aquinas.
In the culminating debate, Mahama Bassit fervently argued in favour of the motion, “Should the Return of Looted Artefacts by Colonial Powers be Permanent?” Backed by meticulous research and unwavering conviction, Mahama and his team clinched victory, securing the prestigious title for St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School in the 2024 Ghana Culture Week Interschool Debate.
In an interview with Republic Press, Mahama Abdul-Bassit expressed his pride in continuing the legacy of excellence upheld by Aquinas’ debaters. As President of the Writers’ and Debaters Club, Mahama articulated his aspiration to leave an indelible mark through triumphs like these.
Asserting Aquinas’ supremacy in debate competitions nationwide, Mahama underscored their unwavering dominance in the arena of intellectual discourse.
Acknowledged as the most eloquent student, Joanna Kukah of Labone Senior High School issued a call to all students to embody Ghanaian culture in their daily lives. She implored her peers to embrace Ghanaian cuisine, attire, language,
“I am encouraging all students to eat Ghana, wear Ghana, dress Ghana and speak Ghana because i believe if we are proud of our culture, people within and around our borders would prioritize the need to patronize Ghanaian culture”, she said.
