By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Accra, Aug. 23, GNA – Two Junior High School pupils from Accra and Elmina have emerged winners of the Southern sector semi-finals of the 2026 Schools Sanitation Solution (Triple-S) Challenge.
The two are Afua Agyeibea Arch of the Bethany Methodist School in the Ayawaso West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region and Nabeeha Sulemana Atiah of the Elmina Methodist Junior High School in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region.
Afua, winner of the Tilapia Zone comprising the Greater Accra, Volta and Oti regions, obtained 71 points, while Nabeeha, emerged winner of the Coconut Zone comprising the Central, Western and Western North regions, scored 83 points.
The two winners would represent their respective zones at the grand finale of the competition, dubbed the “Battle of Champions,” in September where they would join the two winners from the Northern Sector – Candi Dasanah Mwinimaloo of Star of God RC JHS in Wa, winner of the Shea Zone, and Dede Nhyira Nyarko of Nkawkaw St Anthony RC JHS in the Eastern Region, winner of the Cocoa Zone.
Each contestant who participated in the semi-finals received GH¢1,000 and a certificate, while the two zone winners received GH¢1,500 each, certificates and souvenirs.
The overall winner would be crowned the Child Sanitation Diplomat and supported to undertake identifiable sanitation projects.
The seventh edition of the annual competition is organised by World Vision Ghana (WVG), in partnership with Kings Hall Media Limited, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, GAMA-SWP and Zoomlion Foundation.
The competition, which is open to pupils from Primary Six to Junior High Two, attracted more than 1,000 valid entries from across the country.
This year’s contestants were required to proffer solutions to address the sanitation situation in the country, especially plastic waste.
Speaking in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the contest, Mr Yaw Atta Arhin, the WASH Technical Specialist at WVG, said the programme was designed to give children a voice in addressing sanitation challenges, particularly because they were among the people most affected by poor sanitation but were often excluded from finding solutions.
He said the programme had four main objectives: to encourage children to develop keen interest in environmental sanitation; make them sanitation-conscious agents of change; build their capacity to co-create sustainable solutions; and empower them to advocate improved sanitation themselves.
“We want every child to become a diplomat of sanitation wherever they find themselves,” Mr Arhin said.
He said one of the major achievements of the competition was the growing interest among children, noting that pupils often contacted the organisers to find out when applications for the next edition would open.
“That demonstrates the emergence of a sanitation-conscious generation that would reject living in unhygienic environments and demand proper toilet facilities in homes, schools and health facilities,” Mr Atta Arhin said.
On the assessment of the programme, he said the objectives were largely being achieved, with children demonstrating practical understanding of sanitation challenges through their essays and proposed solutions.
He, however, said there was the need to go beyond written proposals by helping children to develop practical tools and devices to address sanitation problems.
Mr Thomas Narh Korley, the Head of the Zoomlion Foundation, said the organisation had over the years supported school sanitation programmes through educational activities, logistics, clean-up exercises and recycling campaigns.
He said the foundation created the sanitation diploma and children’s sanitation fair platforms to give children the confidence and opportunity to speak publicly about sanitation issues.
Mr Korley urged school authorities to involve pupils in decisions concerning sanitation facilities, saying children were more likely to use facilities that reflected their needs and preferences.
“If you go and create the toilet and it is not suitable for them, they will not use it,” he said, stressing the importance of giving children a voice in sanitation planning.
Mr Stephen Ntow, Director of WASHealth Solutions and Chairman of the panel of judges, commended the contestants for their courage and confidence, but urged parents and teachers to ensure that children were equipped with accurate and up-to-date information when preparing them for sanitation advocacy.
Dr Ntow said although the contestants demonstrated a high level of confidence in defending their written submissions, the panel observed some factual inaccuracies in their presentations, which he attributed partly to the information and guidance provided by adults.
He said the rapid pace of change in knowledge and technology made it necessary for teachers and parents to regularly verify information before passing it on to children.
“Sometimes, when you are not sure of something, tell them, ‘This one, I don’t know what it is today,’ and go and check before you update it for them,” he advised.
He urged the children to remain committed to issues they believed in and to develop the courage to advocate for improved sanitation regardless of the circumstances.
Since its inception in 2018, WVG and its partners have engaged schoolchildren in sanitation campaigns to encourage them to identify problems in their communities and propose sustainable solutions.
The programme also seeks to promote access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services in communities, households, schools and healthcare facilities, while encouraging children to influence their peers, families and communities positively.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]
23 Aug 2026