The Roman Ridge School (TRRS) has once again achieved tremendous success in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2023. A total of 34,924 pupils from every Commonwealth region participated in the competition and The Roman Ridge School submitted 637 entries.
At the end of the competition, The Roman Ridge School secured an impressive 269 medals, which included three Gold Medal Finalists (shortlisted for the overall global prize), 146 Bronze medals, 98 Silver medals, and 22 Gold medals.
TRRS’s extraordinary achievement was announced during the special awards ceremony for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 themed ‘A Youth Powered Commonwealth’, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society (UK).
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition was established in 1883 and is the world’s oldest and most prestigious international school essay competition. It seeks to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop creative writing skills.
TRRS Special Awards Ceremony
In Accra at The Roman Ridge School Special Awards Ceremony, to celebrate the participants and medal winners, TRRS Principal Mrs. Valerie Mainoo commended all the pupils for the record-breaking performance and thanked staff and parents for their unwavering guidance and support.
Mrs. Mainoo further announced that The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) had confirmed: “The Roman Ridge School that had the Highest Number of Entries & Medals of any school in Ghana; The Roman Ridge School had the Highest Number of Entries & Medals of any school in Africa; and The Roman Ridge School has successfully placed in the Top five of All Schools in The Commonwealth Worldwide”.
She added: “TRRS is deeply grateful to all participants, our teachers, parents and supporters whose unwavering encouragement and guidance have been instrumental to enabling such remarkable and consistent achievement by our pupils, year after year. We remain committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers and change-makers, empowering them to thrive in a globally interconnected world”.
A congratulatory message from the Chair of the TRRS Academic Board of Governors, Rev. Dr. Joyce R. Aryee, reminded pupils about the importance of sharing their thoughts and ideas.
“This feat is not an ending, but a powerful beginning. Your success reverberates beyond these walls, inspiring others to follow their passions, to embrace the power of the pen, and to use their voices to make a difference,” she added.
In his speech, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Keith McMahon, also extended heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the British High Commission, commending the pupils for consistently achieving excellence on a global scale.
Mr. McMahon emphasised how important strong literacy and communication skills are for one’s future and the future of a nation while encouraging the pupils to stay critical and curious by asking questions; not to be afraid to seize opportunities to ‘challenge orthodoxy’ and to innovate for improvement and positive change.
Head of Mission at Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), John Apea, also urged them to understand the scale of their performance, explaining: “You are competing with schools across all Commonwealth nations: Canada, Australia, Singapore and India and emerging in the Top 5 of all schools; this is something to be very, very proud of”.
Mr. Apea encouraged all pupils to continue striving along this very exciting trajectory.
The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including the Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Keith McMahon; Head of Mission at Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), John Apea; CWEIC Country Director, Ben Cobblah; CWEIC Business Director, Danielli Ofori Atta; Head of Agency Banking for Ecobank Group, CWEIC Strategic Partner, Mrs. Jacqueline Mpare; Partner at Africa Legal Associates, CWEIC Strategic Partner, Nii Odotei; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Duke of Edinburgh/Head of State Award, Harry Sintim-Aboagye; Chairman of the TRRS Board of Directors, Dr. Frank Adu Jnr; Chair of the TRRS Academic Board of Governors, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee; and TRRS Executive Director, Gordon Gopaldas.
To mark the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Commonwealth Heads of Government declared 2023 a year dedicated to youth-led action for sustainable and inclusive development and called on a renewal and strengthening of our commitment to youth engagement and empowerment. Of the Commonwealth’s population of almost 2.5 billion people, 60 percent are under the age of 30.
This young demographic represents a dynamic ‘youth force for change’, made up of exceptional young people who are increasingly involved in advocacy, decision-making and action. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 asks entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world.
