Citi FM Channel One TV unveil enhanced Literacy Challenge programme

Citi FM and Channel One TV have unveiled an enhanced version of their Literacy Challenge, aimed at promoting critical thinking, digital literacy and academic excellence among basic school pupils across the country.

Launching the 2026 edition of the competition in Accra last Wednesday, Head of Programmes Production at Channel One TV, Ms Apiokor Seyiram Ashong- Abbey, said the initiative had evolved significantly since its introduction in 2008 as an essay-writing competition known as ‘The Write Away Contest.’

She explained that while the programme initially focused on writing and communication skills, changing educational and technological trends had made it necessary to broaden the concept of literacy.

“Literacy today is no longer limited to reading and writing. It also includes digital literacy, critical thinking and the ability to apply knowledge to solve problems,” she stated.

According to Ms Ashong-Abbey, the competition currently has three stages: an essay competition, an aptitude test and a live quiz contest.

Participants will first submit essays on a selected topic, after which the best entries will be shortlisted. A minimum of six students will be selected from each of the 16 regions to ensure broader national representation.

The shortlisted students will then sit for an aptitude test comprising 100 application-based questions designed to assess reasoning and problem-solving abilities. The top contestants from each region will advance to a team-based quiz competition.

Ms Ashong-Abbey said the competition achieved a major milestone in 2025 when it recorded strong participation from all 16 regions of Ghana.

The winning regional team will receive GH¢15,000, trophies, medals, certificates and laptop computers. In addition, the overall most outstanding student will receive an extra GH¢5,000.

Also speaking at the event, educationist Anis Haffar underscored the importance of critical thinking in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).

He noted that while technology had transformed access to information, it could not replace human values, creativity and independent reasoning.

“Critical thinking is one skill that AI cannot do for us. We must teach our children to think for themselves and become responsible citizens,” he said.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu