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Her Voice, Her Choice, Her Future: NGSDC 2025 Inspires a Generation
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, Sixteen (16) senior high schools from across Ghana gathered at Accra Girls’ Senior High School for the official opening of the 2025 National Girls’ Speech and Debate Championship (NGSDC).
This is a nationwide initiative that is fast becoming one of the most transformative platforms for student expression, empowerment, and leadership.
Held under the theme “Her Voice, Her Choice, Her Future,” this year’s event opened with a passionate call to action from the Executive Director of NGSDC, Mrs. Dora Badu Owusu-Adomah, who urged young participants to take charge of their future by embracing purpose, kindness, and self-discipline.
Addressing a packed auditorium of students, teachers, judges, and dignitaries, the Executive Director reminded the audience that “your life is not a performance. It is a project. Build it with care.”
The opening ceremony featured remarks from Ms. Richlove Animah Berchie, representing the Honourable Minister for Education, and Dr. Osman Tahidu Damba, Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, both of whom emphasized the importance of creating platforms that uplift young girls and amplify their voices in national development.
A thought-provoking panel discussion titled “The Youth’s Future Conversation” brought together a diverse group of speakers including journalist Dep. Secretary General, Ghana Commission for UNESCO Dr. Nazia Ibrahim, Ayisha Yakubu, civic leader Mrs. Gifty M. Dumelo, and student debater Francisca Odoom of Gomoa SHTS.
Topics ranged from youth mindset and social media influence to responsibility, discipline, and the importance of finding purpose early in life.
The Executive Director also used the platform to address troubling trends such as bullying, peer pressure, and the rise of risky behaviours among students, cautioning those who tear others down with words or encourage irresponsible choices.
“True leadership lifts people higher; it doesn’t pull them into regret,” she said.
The Round of 16 kicked off immediately after the ceremony, featuring engaging speech presentations from all 16 participating schools.
Each presentation reflected the theme, showcasing the students’ passion, originality, and critical thinking on issues affecting girls and youth in Ghana today.
As the event progresses toward the finals, the NGSDC continues to position itself as a powerful force for change—not only by providing a stage for academic excellence, but also by mentoring a generation of girls to rise boldly and lead with purpose.
The NGSDC is powered by MerMac Productions a subsidiary of the Help A Girl Foundation in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Commission for UNESCO, and several corporate and community sponsors such as MARGINS ID Group, CUPA Study International, Twellium Industries among others.
The event continues in the coming weeks with the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Grand Finale scheduled for July.
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
