A 13-year-old girl of Alhassan Gbanzaba Memorial School, Tamale was adjudged the overall Best Debater during a soccer debate competition organized by SOS Children’s Villages, Ghana in connection with the 26th MTN African Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008.

Amina Balma Ahmed, in her second year in the Junior High School debated factually and as her award, she received a cash of GH¢500.

Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, SOS Ghana’s international Partner and a Co- Recipient of the 2006 World Cup FIFA Fair Play Award promised to pay for all educational materials for the JHS pupil for the next academic year for her performance.

The SOS Children’s Villages Ghana soccer debate was an event which was to explore the role of football as an effective medium for peace and development and to address many social and children’s issues. Six school comprising the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, Taifa Community ‘3’ Junior High School, St Andrews Junior High School, Adabraka Presbyterian Junior High School, Bunso Roman Catholic Junior High School and Alhassan Gbanzaba Memorial School from Tamale competed in the final event.

In his opening address, the National Director of SOS Ghana, Mr. Kojo Mattah said football is gradually becoming a medium for promoting positive messages in society.

“The motive behind this debate is to portray football as not only playing, singing, and winning but rather to show through the debate how human beings are entitled to their opinions which can be solved through violence and aggression instead through dialogue, communications, reasoning and exchange “ he said.

The participated schools debated on three topics such as ‘Can Football be used to Promote Peace and Development’, Can Football be Used to Promote the Rights of children and provide access to opportunities for a bright future and Can Footbal Star, coaches and administrators promote development in their communities?

Mr. Mattah therefore commenced Stanbic Bank and the consultant for the project Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu for their support towards the event.

Dr. Bello also a lecturer at the University of Innsbruck, Austria advised teachers’ n the need to encourage debate among school pupils to enhance their sense of judgment.

He said debates are a crucial element in the upbringing of the younger ones that also helps to promote peace and development.

On behalf of the fans, he said that debates, dialogues, discussions and other forms of communications are very instrumental in the lifestyle of children as it broadens their knowledge scope in other related fields.

3 Hermann Gmeiner Schools Pupils attend UN Program.