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Ofori Panin SHS wins drama contest with splendid performance
Students of Ofori Panin Senior High School performing a play on unemployment
A splendid dramatic performance put up by students of Ofori Panin Senior High School in the Eastern Region earned them the highest prize of the maiden edition of the National High School Drama Competition, held on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the National Theatre in Accra.
The students performed on how unemployed graduates, in a hurry to better their lives, indulge in money rituals and other vices which eventually land them in deep troubles.
For coming out on top, Ofori Panin SHS received a beautiful trophy and cash of GHc2, 000, while Odorgonno Senior High School, the runner-up, received a trophy and cash prize of GHC1, 000. Manya Krobo Senior High School which came third received a trophy and cash prize of GHc500.
The competition, organised by Alpha Promotions and Simdos Entertainment in collaboration with High School Media Club, brought together 18 Senior High Schools to compete for the prizes at stake.
Some of the participants were Benkum Senior High School, Adonten Senior High School, Bright Senior High School, St. Johns Grammar Senior High School and Oyoko Methedist Senior High School,
Others were WBM Zion Senior High School, Diaspora Girls Senior High School, Nungua Senior High School, Labone Senior High School, Akuse Methodist Senior High School and Kinbu Senior High School.
The rest were Presbyterian Senior High School (Osu), New Juaben Senior High School, Oti Boateng Senior High School and Koforidua Secondary Technical School.
The schools dramatised bribery and corruption, tribal disputes and their negative impact on society, unemployment and greed, early child marriage, among others.
The judges looked for students’ adherence to the 20 minutes alloted to each school to perform their excellent acting skills, and the issues they addressed through drama.
Mr. Henry Morgan, one of the judges, said the reason for organising the national competition was “to encourage the students to be critical thinkers and act creatively, improve their writing skills and to develop their problem-solving skills that can be applied in all areas of education.”
The competition uses drama as an important tool to prepare students to develop tolerance, self-confidence, social awareness and ability to work in a world that is increasingly team oriented.
Ms. Priscilla Akyea Eshun, a participating student from Ofori Panin Senior High School and president of the High School Media Club said she was delighted and privileged to be part of the winning team at the competition, adding that “our shining performance has boosted our confidence and emboldened us to be set to achieve more successes in our future endeavours.”
By Agnes Nyarkoa Eshun
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury
Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants
Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercury in gold processing.
The sensitisation which was organised by PlanetGOLD Ghana project was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.
According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sarpong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challenges that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.
Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.
Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several initiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.
It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, support the formalisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availability of mercury-free alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environmental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.
He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
