By Benjamin Mensah
Accra, Aug 21, GNA – Four Basic School pupils in the first stage of this year’s Schools Sanitation Solutions (Triple S) Challenge competition have been declared finalists to the grand finale to be held at the National Theatre in Accra on September 22, 2025.
They are 13-year-old Desiree Ohemaaa Amponsah Duah from the AGBL Basic School, Babiani in the Western North Region, and Master Artaldus Sung Kuuntanaa, aged 13 years, and from the Accra College of Education Demonstration School; Master Kwabena Owusu Nyarko, a pupil of Berekum Yiadom Boakye Demonstration ‘B’, Bono; and Emmanuela Kolbila of the Charis Christian Mission School, North East Region.
Desiree, Artaldus, Kwabena and Emmanuella, sailed through the first and second stages of the competition and would represent the four zones-Coconut, Tilapia, Cocoa and Shea Zones- into which the 16 regions have been divided for the contest at the grand finale christened “The Battle of Champions”.
The Coconut Zone comprises the Central, Western and Western North Regions; and the Tilapia Zone the Greater Accra, the Volta and Oti Regions.
The Cocoa Zone comprises the Ashanti, Eastern, Bono, Bono East and the Ahafo Regions; and the Shea Zone covers the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
Lawyer Dan Afari Yeboah of GBC “What Do You Know” fame would be the quizmaster.
The School Sanitation Solutions (Triple S) Challenge, was launched by World Vision Ghana to promote child-led sanitation, empowering pupils to develop innovative solutions for improving hygiene in schools.
The first Masters Encounter was held in Accra, on Friday, August 15, 2025, and the second on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 in Abesim, near Sunyani, in the Bono Region.
Each of the contestants, from other successful contestants from the regions from all the zones appeared before a panel of judges, made up of experts in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector, were quizzed on an essay topic they had written on.
The topic, as announced by the organisers, this year was:” The President of the Republic of Ghana has declared SANITATION as a top priority in his administration and has gone ahead to make this a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for all newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
“As one of these MMDCEs, outline your vision and the steps you will take to ensure improved basic sanitation and sustainable waste management in your Metropolis, Municipality or District.”
In an opening remark in Accra during the first Masters Encounter, Mr Yaw Atta-Arhin, WASH Technical Director of World Vision Ghana, the lead organiser of the competition, stressed the need to involve children and build their capacity in addressing sanitation challenges.
He recalled that competition had been impactful as the winners of previous competition had come out with their own sanitation projects and addressed sanitation challenges in their communities.
Mr Atta Arhin congratulated the contestants on their win and urged them to exhibit the same level of confidence at the final stage of the competition.
The Triple S Challenge is being organised by the Christian child focused organization World Vision Ghana and other partners- Kings Hall Media, the Zoomlion Foundation, the Ghana Education Service, the Greater Metropolitan Sanitation and Water Project and Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, among others,
It aims to unearth knowledge and solution-oriented ideas from children to tackle Ghana’s sanitation issues.
The competition is open to all pupils in the country, across all sixteen regions, from primary six up to Junior High two.
There would also be a sanitation fair at the grand finale,The overall winner will be unveiled as a ‘Child Sanitation Diplomat’ and will be supported to spearhead sanitation development projects.
GNA