The Vice-Chancellor of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo, has commended members of the AAMUSTED Debate Society (ADS) for their spirited performance at the ninth (9th) Ghana Universities Debate Championship (GUDC), hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. The October 8-14, 2023 Championship, was the third consecutive appearance of the University in the GUDC since it was established in August 2020.

Prof. Sarfo made the commendation when eleven (11) members of the ADS, who represented AAMUSTED at the 2023 GUDC, called on him on October 16, 2023, to show him four (4) medals they won, including the overall Best Novice Judge Prize, at the competition.

The team meets the Vice-Chancellor

A total of 160 students from nine (9) tertiary institutions in Ghana namely the University of Ghana (UG)-Legon, KNUST, University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Development Studies (UDS), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), SD-Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), and Accra and Takoradi Technical Universities participated in the competition.

The Vice-Chancellor was happy that their participation and performance at the 2023 GUDC was an improvement over their previous performances in the competition and that, by no small measure, had contributed to selling AAMUSTED out to the world as a force to reckon with.

He was also happy that the students, irrespective of their heavy schedules, had availed themselves for strenuous preparations for a competition that ultimately sought to bring honour to the University. He hoped that other students would emulate the example and avail their talents and unique competencies to help develop AAMUSTED.

Prof. Sarfo assured the Debate Team that the University would continue to support the ADS in its efforts to annex bigger laurels for the University as part of an all embracing effort to grow AAMUSTED into a global icon for TVET and Entrepreneurial Education.

The president of ADS, Mr. Ishmael Papa Abakah, thanked the Management and Staff of the University, especially their patrons – Prof. Yarhands D. Arthur and Dr. Charles Baba Campion for the diverse ways they supported them in their preparation and participation in the Championship.

He hinted the ADS was making effort to win the hosting right for the 2024 GUDC to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the University. In that regard, he appealed for Management support, explaining that winning the right to host the Championship would further enhance the image of the University.

The eleven (11) representatives of AAMUSTED at the 2023 GUDC were Mr. Joseph Sanaki, Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Tandoh, Mr. Ishmael Papa Abakah, Miss. Sylvia Amisare Twumasi, Mr. Ernest Osei, Miss. Deborah Efua Eshun, Mr. Emmanuel Quansah, Miss. Heartwell Kupolawu Bayide, Miss. Wilhemina Maisie, Mr. Emmanuel Owusu-Adade, and Mr. Emmanuel Bour Wireko.

The 2023 GUDC, also dubbed “Nyansakasa” translated literally as “wise talking/speaking,” was under the theme “Pursuing the boundaries of discourse in our society through dialogue, intelligence and ingenuity.”

The GUDC uses the iconic British Parliamentary (BP) style of debate. Participants are given only 15 minutes to prepare on a motion given only in the course of the championship and deliver for assessment. The competition also involves a Public Speaking feature that pitches participants to make creative speeches on topics, themes, pictures, and videos.

AAMUSTED Alumni Association donates to the team ahead of the championship

In a related development, the AAMUSTED Alumni Association has pledged its support to the ADS in their future competitions. Led by its Vice President, Mrs. Millicent Pimpong, the Association donated food items and drinks to the AAMUSTED Debate Team for the 2023 GUDC ahead of the competition to help them in their preparation.

Mrs. Pimpong told the Debate Team that the Alumni Association was proud to associate with them and that in future, it would not only support them with food items but would join the coaching team to prepare the Debate Team for competitions.