Sawla Senior High School Emerges Winner of 2024/2025 NorDeF Inter-School National Debate

The Northern Debaters’ Forum (NorDeF) has successfully concluded the 2024/2025 Inter-School National Debate Final, with Sawla Senior High School emerging as the overall winner after an intellectually stimulating and closely contested debate.

The national final was held on Saturday, 17th January 2026, at the Ganass Hotel in Bolgatanga, and brought together some of the brightest young debaters from Northern Ghana.

A Thought-Provoking National Final

The finalists debated the motion:

“The fight against poverty in Northern Ghana is a lost battle.”

Sawla Senior High School impressed both the judges and the audience with a compelling display of critical thinking, logical argumentation, clarity of expression, and strong teamwork. Their arguments were noted for being well-researched, balanced, and firmly grounded in practical socio-economic realities.

Strong Competition from Participating Schools

The debate featured outstanding performances from:

• Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School
• Tamale Girls Senior High School
• St. Francis of Assisi Girls Senior High School

All participating schools demonstrated exceptional debating skills, making the final highly competitive and enriching.

Distinguished Guests and Panel

The event was chaired by Florence Ayamga, a renowned media practitioner with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The occasion was graced by Razak Z. Abdul-Korah, Upper East Regional Director of Education, as Guest of Honour, and Dr. Aaron Issah Anafure, a finance and insurance expert and Council Member of BTU, as Special Guest.

The Executive Director of the Northern Debaters’ Forum, Mr. Tebon Zumah, reaffirmed NorDeF’s commitment to using debate as a platform to promote critical thinking, leadership, and informed civic participation among students.

Sponsorship and Appreciation

NorDeF expressed its appreciation to KIVO, the official sponsor of the event, for supporting youth education and debate development in Northern Ghana.

Looking Ahead

The Northern Debaters’ Forum congratulates Sawla Senior High School on their well-deserved victory and applauds all participating schools for their dedication and excellence. NorDeF remains committed to expanding debate opportunities and empowering young voices to engage meaningfully with national development issues.