Kumasi, Feb 6, GNA- The Prempeh College scored 27.8 points to emerge winners of this year's Ashanti regional inter-district senior secondary schools independence anniversary debate held in Kumasi on Friday.

Prempeh will, therefore, represent the region at the zonal level to be held in Tamale in the Northern Region with other schools from Upper East, Upper West, Brong-Ahafo and the Northern regions on February 13.

Prempeh spoke against the topic: "That Girl-Child Education Is Being Given Too Much Attention To The Neglect Of Boy-Child Education". The second position was taken by Ejisuman Secondary/Technical School in the Ejisu-Juaben district with 23.5 points and Nkawie Secondary/Technical School in the Atwima district obtaining 23.1 points to place third.

Eleven districts, out of the 18 districts in the region failed to participate in the competition organised by the Ashanti regional directorate of education.

They were Kwabre, Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma, Asante-Akim South, Ahafo-Ano South, Amansie West and Adansi East and Adansi West. Addressing the participating schools, Mr Julius Kwashie Oddoye, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of Education, noted that education brought out the best in a person for the benefit of the society. He said any person who contributed to the development of education in the country should be commended.

Mr Oddoye congratulated the headmasters, teachers, members of the planning committee and students for helping in the organisation of the competition.

The Deputy Regional Director called on school authorities to regularly organise debates in their schools to foster unity among the students, encourage them to read and research for information and also to improve student's intellectual ability.

Mrs Georgina Acquah, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the Programme, commended the students for their efforts and urged them to continue to learn hard to improve on their performance.

She said the winners from the Northern sector would compete at the national level on March 4 at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra.