The Tema Senior High School (SHS) has emerged winners of the 5th Inter-School Debate organised as part of commemoration of this year’s Ghana International Book Fair (GIBF).
The Ghana Publishers Association (GPA) and Afram Publications Limited, organisers of the event, presented items worth GHC50,000 to Tema Senior High School for winning the debate.
The items included a plaque, one desktop computer and accessories, souvenirs (branded cups, book marks), and books.
Tema SHS beat Winneba Senior High School at the finale of the contest held at the National Theatre on
August 20, 2025. Swedru Senior High School came third, while Okuapeman Senior High School placed fourth.
The presentation ceremony took place on the school’s premises on September 18, 2025.
Ms Harriet Adelaide Tagoe, Managing Director of Afram Publications Limited, said the presentation of the items was in fulfilment of a promise made on the day of the contest.
“We decided to meet you in your own environment and congratulate you once again. You did well. You can be rest assured that some of the pointers you shared during the debate will be discussed with the necessary authorities for the needed actions to be taken,” she said.
Ms Tagoe announced that, “we’re also going to review the modalities for the debate as well as the criteria for selecting schools come next year, based on the comments and suggestions that have been made.”
Ms. Grace Obeng, a representative of SIC Insurance Plc, who presented the prize, encouraged the students to use the computer to research into topics that they would have to debate in the future.
“I am proud of the fact that it was an all-girls win. This is good for affirmative action. Continue to shine,” Ms Obeng advised the debaters.
Mr Benjamin Tawiah Klu, Executive Secretary of GPA, advised the students and schools to patronise books with local content, which promote Ghanaian culture.
Meanwhile, representatives of Tema, Okuapeman, Swedru and Winneba Senior High schools took part in this year’s inter-school debate.
The team from Swedru SHS argued against the motion “The devastating effect of illegal mining (galamsey) on the environment is due to non-implementation of appropriate policies”, whereas their counterparts from Winneba SHS argued for the motion.
On the other hand, the debaters from Tema Senior High School and Okuapeman Senior High School, debated over what strategies could be used to deal with indiscipline in schools.
They argued respectively, for and against the motion “Indiscipline in schools is a result of deficiencies in the school curriculum.”
Subsequently, Tema SHS and Winneba SHS faced off over the motion “The publishing industry has been adversely affected by the lack of copyright enforcement: Are authors and publishers deserving of copyright protection?”