By:Isaac Amoah

The Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), in collaboration with Master Card Foundation, Blue Skies and other partners, has successfully held this year’s KIC School Farm competition at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Friday, 8th November 2024.

The KIC’s school farm competition seeks to increase the interest of high school students in agriculture,give them a hands-on experience and exposing them to career prospects in agriculture.

The colourful, interesting and memorable ceremony, which was witnessed by key stakeholders and participating schools, was telecast live, and it coincided with the 2024 National Farmers’ Day.

The prizes of awardees included tablets, laptops, desktop computers, plaques and certificates. Besides, the overall best winners were given a trophy and additional computers.

A list of the various categories and winners is presented below:

1. 50 top performing schools in the 2024 KIC School Farm project, including basic and senior high schools received handsome products from sponsors.

2. A recognition award was given to the STEM Directory of the Ministry of Education, which was received by Mrs. Olivia Serwaa Opare, Director (STEM) unit of GES.

3. A recognition award to all 16 STEM regional co-ordinators for their support for the KIC School Farm project.

4. The three outstanding awards for STEM co-ordinators were won by Mrs. Rosemary Ahiate, Mr. Freddick Owusu and Mr. Wuni Nazini Wudana.

5. Most entrepreneurial school award went to Okanta Presbyterian School.
6. Goriyi R/C JHS won the most committed school award.
7. Bepong SHS won the most innovative school award.
8. Top Basic School received the award for the most committed in soil and environmental protection.
9. Sawla School won the discovery of the year award.
10. The Special Young Leadership award was received by Salma Basiratu of Tamale Girls SHS; she went home with a tablet, a certificate and a plaque.
11. The best female student for JHS category went to Ewurama Mireku of Anyinam, whilst Mensah Zakaria grabbed the best male student category.

12. For the best SHS category, Isabala Amartey of Methodist Girls won the female one, while Joshua took the male category.

13. The three most inclusive awards went to Ashanti School for the Deaf, Savelugu School for the Deaf as well as Garden City Special School at Asokore Mampong.

14. Best Teacher JHS category was won by Madam Priscilla Awuku, and for her prize she went home with a laptop, a plaque and a certificate.

15. Best teacher award SHS category went to Abubakari Abdulai of Vitting SHS with a similar prize.

16. Nashiru Abugri of Peki SHTS won the Lemuel Mantey Agric Leadership award and went home with a laptop, a plaque, certificate and GH¢1,000 as his prize.

17. Madam Alice Karikari of Yaa Asanteman Girls SHS won the Ruth Smith Adjei award and also took home a laptop, a plaque, certificate and GH¢1,000.

18. The Dr. Anthony Pile Special Recognition award was won by Meshack Okunnor, and he also took home a similar prize.

19. The overall best JHS: 2nd runner-up was won by Goriyiri R/C JHS; 1st runner-up was won by Badu Nyamebekyere JHS and the overall best award won by Okanta Presbyterian School. The contestants went home with four desktop computers, a plaque and a certificate.

20. The overall best SHS category:
    St. John Grammar School took the 3rd runner-up award; Peki SHTS took the 2nd runner-up award; the 1st runner-up went to St. Joseph Technical Institute and the overall best award won by Tamale Girls SHS.

Sime scenes from the awards ceremony;