The Jubilee Partners today launched a Jubilee First Oil National Essay competition as part of activities to celebrate Ghana’s oil find. Launched at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, the essay competition is to among other things; create awareness among the youth about Ghana’s Oil sector. The competition will also harness ideas from the youth about how to manage the sector for the good of the nation.
The Special guest for the launch occasion, Mrs. Mary Quaye, Director of Pre-tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education, said the competition was a step in the right direction as it seeks to involve the youth in an important national discussion. “As we celebrate Ghana’s oil, there is the need for the Ghanaian public and more importantly the youth, to fully comprehend the importance of the oil discovery and its potential impact on Ghanaian society. Today I am honoured to be part of a program that seeks to make an impact in this direction” she said.
She further commended the Jubilee Partners for the exemplary initiation that hallmarks the acceptance of responsibility towards the future generation, adding that it is about time our youth became frontrunners in issues of national interest. She urged the youth to take advantage of this opportunity to get involved and make their voices heard.
Professor Mawuli Adjei, from the English Department of the University of Ghana, who is a member of the judging panel outlined that the judges will be looking for essays that presents ideas in a balanced, comprehensive and objective manner and communicates ideas in a way that makes the issues raised relevant. Other members of the judging panel are Hon. Fritz Baffour, MP, Kweku Sakyi Addo, Broadcast journalist, Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, Journalist and Former Minister of State responsible for Education and a representative of the Jubilee field partners.
According to Mr. Dai Jones, President and General Manager of Tullow Ghana Limited, the essay competition is one of the many educative, entertaining and interesting programmes put in place by the Jubilee Field Partners to mark the jubilee first oil production. He thanked the media for their continued support on activities of the jubilee partners.
The First Oil National Essay competition is in two categories; the junior category is targeted at students in the Junior and Senior High Schools while the senior category is targeted at students in tertiary institutions. Candidates in the junior and senior categories are expected to provide essays in not more than 500 and 750 words respectively by November 30th 2010 after which winners will be announced.
Topics for the two categories are:
Junior Category: TO WHAT USE SHOULD GHANA PUT ITS OIL WEALTH?
Senior Category: GHANA’S OIL IS FOR DEVELOPMENT. OUTLINE SOME DEVELOPMENTAL BENEFITS OF GHANA’S OIL FIND.
Qualified Ghanaian youth residing in the country are encouraged to participate by submitting entries on the essay topics for the two categories.
All qualified entries will be examined by a panel of independent, highly respected and experienced judges. Winners will be rewarded with many interesting prizes including educational grants/scholarships, cash prizes, laptops, and jubilee oil souvenirs.