(Issue Monday June 28, 2016)
The
two debate teams that represented the University of The Gambia (UTG) at the
just concluded sub-regional debate competition held at the University of Cape
Coast, Ghana, have made some impressive debates.
The
annual competition, dubbed ‘Ghana Universities Debate Championship’, was
organised by Ghana Universities Debate Association from 14 to 23 June, this
year.
A
total of 42 debate teams from 15 universities and tertiary institutions from
Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia participated in the event.
The
UTG produced two debate teams, which comprised Alpha M.K. Lowe of the School of
Education; Fatou Jeng, School of Journalism and Digital Media; Musa Sawaneh,
School of Business and Public Administration, and Mam Mary Deeja Faye, Faculty
of Law.
The
presidents of the UTG Students Union and UTG Debate Association, Ansumana
Bojang and Ensa Kinteh, respectively, served as adjudicators in the
championship.
One
of the teams, made up of Alpha and Mam Mary, made it to the quarterfinals while
the other team, Fatou and Musa, stopped at the octo-finals, a round before the
quarter finals.
UTG
SU President Bojang expressed delight at the performance of the team for “the
simple reason that this is the first time they participated in an international
debate tourney and they were able to go this far”.
He
said the students union and the debate association as well as the university
administration are proud of the debate teams.
Bojang
also applauded Mustapha Kah, president of Debate Gambia and a former president
of UTGDA, who was instrumental in training the debate teams in preparation for
the Ghana debate. Ensa Kinteh, too,
Bojang added, did help in further preparing the team while in Ghana.
The
UTGSU President thanked the Gambia government and UTG administration for their
support to the team, particularly, the finance director, Mr Kojo, who is also
the coordinator of the UTGDA.
Meanwhile,
the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh, was recognised during the Ghana
debate for “his outstanding support in the promotion of education for Gambians
and non-Gambians”.
The
citation was received by UTGSU President Bojang and UTGDA Ensa Kinteh on behalf
of the president.
Mr
Bojang thanked the government for creating the enabling environment for
students to explore their talents while calling on institutions to support
debate as it promotes intellectual discussions and encourages critical
thinking.
