Kumasi, Feb 10, GNA - The Ghana Education Service (GES) has identified the usage of English Language as a major problem for students and has therefore initiated programmes including quiz and debates to address it.

Mr Joseph Clement Amoah, the Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Education said this at the 52nd Independence Day Anniversary Inter-District Debate held at the weekend in Kumasi.

The debate, which was keenly contested, was on the topic; "That, the Practice of Occultism in Senior High Schools (SHS) is only a Perception and not a Reality."

The Ashanti Regional Education Directorate organised the debate and 20 Senior High Schools from the region participated in the debate. Konongo Odumase Senior High School (KOSS), last year's national champions who represented the Asante Akim North District again came first and will represent the Ashanti Region at the Independence Day

Anniversary Inter-Regional Debate Competition for the Northern Sector to be held in Wa in the Upper West Region this month. Ntonso Seventh Day Adventist Girls SHS, which represented Kwabre District placed second while Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) SHS representing Kumasi Metropolitan came third. Tepa SHS which represented the Ahafo Ano North District occupied the fourth position.

Mr Amoah advised the pre-tertiary institutions to organise regular debates to encourage students to read and conduct research to gather more information. He said debates not only improved students' intellectual skills and ability to speak in public with confidence but also fostered unity among them. Mr Amoah observed that education was the bedrock of a nation's development and advised all stakeholders to support quality education delivery in the country.

Mrs Georgina Acquah, GES Ashanti Regional Cultural Officer, who was the Co-ordinator of the event, commended the participants for their high spirit, enthusiasm and excellent academic performance and advised them to sustain it.