By Christabel DANSO ABEAM
After 37 intense rounds and a vocabulary tie-breaker, 12-year-old Giovanni Adjei emerged victorious in the 18th National Spelling Bee Championship, held in Accra, for the second consecutive year.
The National Spelling Bee is a literacy programme designed for students aged 7 to 13, aimed at enhancing their English language skills. It focuses on teaching effective language use, building their capacity and strengthening their understanding of spelling fundamentals and language structure. “Even though I studied hard, the competition was very tough. Emerging as the winner makes me feel extremely proud of myself,” Giovanni said in an interview.
He also expressed gratitude to the organisers for the opportunity to participate and thanked his parents for their guidance and support in providing the necessary tools for his success in the competition. The two-time champion also stated that he plans to compete in the next edition and is confident of securing a third consecutive victory.
Prize
As the champion, Giovanni received US$500 in spending money, an engraved trophy, gift parcels from sponsors – including Indomie, a GH¢500 fuel voucher from Goil, a Bliss Playtime experience from Bliss Family Entertainment, and a one-year Merriam-Webster dictionary subscription valued at over US$10,000. The winner will also embark on a trip to Washington, D.C., where he will represent Ghana at the centenary edition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.
1st and 2nd runners-up
Cyleane and Christine, who placed first and second runners-up, respectively, received a GH¢1,000 cash prize, Indomie products, silver and bronze medals respectively, and a GH¢500 fuel voucher sponsored by Goil. They also received a two-week camp experience at AIX sponsored by Ashesi University, and a Bliss Playtime ticket sponsored by Bliss Family Entertainment.
