The Luv FM Kel Charcoal Toothpaste High School Debate is set to return for its seventh edition, bringing together senior high school students from across the Ashanti Region to engage in spirited discussions on pressing national issues.
The annual inter-schools competition provides a platform for students to debate social, economic and national development issues while developing research, critical thinking and public speaking skills.
The 2026 edition, which begins on Monday, August 10, will give participants the opportunity to examine issues including illegal mining, flooding, rising fuel prices, education, corruption and social injustice.
Twenty schools have qualified for the main competition after a keenly contested preliminary stage in which students demonstrated their research, analytical and public speaking abilities.
Event Coordinator, Eric Nkoom, said the competition goes beyond identifying the best debating school, as it is designed to help young people understand national challenges and develop practical solutions.
“The competition is more than just a contest to determine the best debating school. It is designed to expose young people to national issues and encourage them to critically examine the challenges facing Ghana while proposing practical and innovative solutions,” he said.
He also encouraged teachers to give students the opportunity to conduct their own research instead of relying solely on prepared debate scripts.
“Teachers are therefore encouraged to allow students to undertake their own research instead of relying on prepared debate scripts,” he added.
Organisers believe the approach will enable participants to develop independent perspectives, challenge existing ideas and generate innovative responses to some of Ghana’s longstanding challenges.
Beyond the debate itself, the competition has over the years opened doors for participants, with some former contestants securing scholarship opportunities to pursue their education both locally and internationally.
Others have gone on to demonstrate the confidence, research skills and public speaking abilities developed through their participation.
According to the organisers, these outcomes reinforce the broader objective of the competition, which is to nurture informed, confident and responsible young people capable of contributing meaningfully to Ghana’s development.
Finalists will be rewarded for their research, hard work and creative submissions, with prizes to be announced at the beginning of the competition and determined by the level of sponsorship secured for the year.
Organisers are also calling on parents, teachers, old students and supporters to rally behind the participating schools and help make the competition both intellectually stimulating and memorable.
For the students, the organisers believe the experience could offer rewards beyond trophies and scholarships, including the ability to research issues, defend their positions, listen to opposing views and develop practical solutions.
Sponsors for this year’s competition include Amansie Community Bank, Holy Insecticide Spray, New Generation Investment Services (NGIS), Didi Shito, St. Ben Jewelry, Serpo Mystical Pen, Otuasekan Community Bank, Bigoo, Tamak Education, The Seed Travel and Lele Rice.
The Luv FM Kel Charcoal Toothpaste High School Debate will be broadcast live on Luv 99.5 FM and its social media platforms, as well as JoyPrime and JoyLearning on the MultiTV platform.
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