By Buertey Francis BORYOR
In the recent semi-final of The Young Debaters (TYD) 2024 public speaking competition held in Accra, seven out of 10 students from Chemu and Accra Senior High schools qualified for the final stage.
They delivered captivating speeches on various thought-provoking topics such as ‘The time travel ride’, ‘Embracing the new you’, ‘Shadows of belief’, and ‘Who is to be blamed’.
Pearl Esinam Buadu, Juliet Elikplim Agbedu, Paula Pearl Simons and Richard Tei Yahocansel Dosoo secured spots in the final round with their eloquent presentations. Additionally, Comfort Nti Amponsah, Pearl Mawutor Abla Amago and Martha Amoah also advanced to the finals with a spectacular presentation on topics like ‘Bright is darkness’, ‘A decision to take’ and ‘Imaginations accordingly’.
Following the competition guidelines, each speaker delivered a 5-minute prepared speech followed by a 3-minute question session. The finalists received certificates of recognition, customised medals and novels, while those who didn’t advance received certificates of participation along with Indomie and Kellogg’s products.
It was themed ‘There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so’.
Ms. Salomé Dzakpasu, the Young Educators Foundation (YEF) Programme Coordinator and TYD organiser, emphasised the significance of building students’ confidence early on. She noted that public speaking is a challenging skill and that the competition aims to address the lack of confidence among young people in expressing their ideas effectively.
Ms. Dzakpasu explained that TYD not only boosts students’ confidence but also helps them formulate their thoughts and deliver engaging speeches. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for students to meet and interact with peers from different nations, fostering critical thinking and communication skills.
The Young Debaters is a prestigious public speaking competition in Ghana, with the national winner earning the chance to represent Ghana in the International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC) held annually in London, UK. The IPSC is organised by the English-Speaking Union (ESU), a UK-based charity that promotes international understanding through the English language. Since its inception in 2010, TYD has produced national winners who have gone on to compete in the IPSC.
