A student from DPS International School, N’Adom Darko-Asare has retained her title as the best speller in Ghana in the 2023 edition of The Spelling Bee competition.
N’Adom was the best in the competition in 2022 as well.
This year she battled for the topmost position with Mychelle Kumah, a 12-year-old from Soul Clinic. Janice Afiba Nketsiah, 12, from St. Francis of Assisi Schools was third.
To win this year’s competition, Miss Darko-Asare, 11, spelt her word correctly in the 17th round and then correctly spelt her championship word to claim. Miss Darko-Asare’s championship word was “DOUROUCOULI.”
The finals of the competition witnessed 104 total participants comprising 46 boys and 58 girls representing 8 cities in Ghana.
Mother of two Spelling Bee champions, Grace Darko-Asare was honoured for her invaluable support to her children and the project.
She is the mother of the 2019 champion, Kwabena Darko-Asare and 2022 and 2023 winner, N’Adom Darko-Asare.
The First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and other high-profile personalities were present.
In a speech, the First Lady commended the organizers for putting together this event for the past sixteen years and encouraged the pupils to live beyond the Spelling Bee and achieve greater things in life.
As the winner N’Adom gets to represent Ghana at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC, USA. She also gets $500 spending money, an engraved trophy, a fully installed DStv Explora decoder with a 6-month subscription, Indomie products, a gold medal, and GH¢300 Goil fuel vouchers.
For placing second, Mychelle Kumah won a trip to Nairobi sponsored by Kenya Airways, $150 spending money, a fully installed DStv HD Zapper decoder with 3 months compact viewing, Indomie products, a silver medal and GH¢150 Goil fuel vouchers.
Janice Afiba Nketsiah also won a trip to Nairobi sponsored by Kenya Airways, $150 spending money, a fully installed DStv HD Zapper decoder with 3 months compact viewing, Indomie products, a bronze medal and GH¢150 Goil fuel vouchers.
The fourth and fifth spellers will also enjoy a round trip to Kenya. Ashesi University also presented a check of GH¢4,500 to the three final contestants.
The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo also offered to sponsor the top three contestants when they travel to the United States of America with N’Adom Darko-Asare competing at the Scripps Spelling Bee Championship.
All other spellers were given 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, GH¢1,000 fuel vouchers sponsored by GOIL.
