Striving for Excellence on the Global Stage: N'Adom Darko-Asare's Aim for Ghana
Jubilant Victory: N'Adom Darko-Asare Triumphs at The Spelling Bee 2023
After a gripping, captivating battle for the championship at The Spelling Bee 2023, returning champion N'Adom Darko-Asare has once again claimed the title of Ghana's best speller. The 11-year-old student from DPS International School, Ghana, accurately spelled her word in the 17th round and confidently spelled her championship word 'douroucouli' to secure her second consecutive victory.
N'Adom Darko-Asare's triumph grants her a trip to Washington D.C., USA to represent Ghana at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, $500 spending money, an engraved trophy, a DStv Explora decoder with four months subscription, Indomie products, a gold medal, and a Goil fuel voucher worth GH¢500.
In her victory speech, a beaming N'Adom expressed her gratitude and expressed her determination to make Ghana proud at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, stating, “I will do my best to make Ghana proud at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.”
The competition also saw 12-year-old Mychelle Kumah of Soul Clinic School, Accra place as first runner-up and 12-year-old Janice Afiba Nketsiah from St. Francis of Assisi Schools finish as the second runner-up. Mychelle Kumah took home $100 spending money, a DStv HD Zapper decoder with four months of compact viewing, Indomie products, a silver medal, and a Goil fuel voucher worth GH¢500. Janice Afiba Nketsiah also received $100 spending money, a DStv HD Zapper decoder, Indomie products, a bronze medal, and a Goil fuel voucher worth GH¢500.
The first and second runners-up, who also won the Yellow Bees category, received $1,000 worth of books, an opportunity to represent Ghana at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and a 1-year Merriam-Webster subscription. The fourth and fifth contestants will enjoy a round trip to Kenya.
The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has promised to sponsor the top three contestants during their trip to the United States of America to compete at the Scripps Spelling Bee Championship.
All other contestants received a certificate of recognition, Indomie products, customized T-shirts, commemorative medals, a customized bag, and novels donated by the PAS-US Embassy while the top three winners' schools each received a certificate of recognition, Goil fuel vouchers worth GH¢1,000 sponsored by GOIL.
The event was graced by the First Lady of the Republic, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; and other high-profile personalities who commended the initiative and encouraged the spellers and organizers for their continuous success over the years.
This year's national finalists were made up of 46 boys and 58 girls representing 8 cities in the country.
The competition, which started in March of 2022, saw over 500 hopefuls - aged between 7 and 13 years - receive training before being assessed through the Preliminaries, Quarter, and Semi-Final levels, where all 104 national finalists emerged.
Spelling Bee-GH: Fostering Excellence and Inspiring Future Leaders
Spelling Bee-GH, often referred to as the National Spelling Bee Ghana or TNSB-Gh, is an annual educational competition that challenges young learners in Ghana, primarily targeting students between the ages of 7 and 13 years old. The event showcases their spelling skills, vocabulary knowledge, and encourages public speaking confidence while promoting literacy, academic excellence, and national pride.
Over the past 15 years, the competition has significantly impacted Ghana's educational landscape by promoting literacy, building confidence, inspiring excellence, and celebrating national achievements. The competition operates an inclusive policy, inviting anyone within the eligible age group to participate, regardless of background, thereby encouraging broad participation across the country. The Spelling Bee-GH has made a mark on Ghana's educational scene, fostering a culture of excellence and lifelong learning.
N'Adom Darko-Asare's success at the Spelling Bee 2023 will necessitate the preparation of a comprehensive report detailing her journey to the championship for the education-and-self-development department. In light of her victory, it would be beneficial to incorporate sports and educational strategies in the department's policy to encourage more young learners to develop their spelling skills and confidence.
