The 2025 Junior Graphic National Essay Competition (JGNEC) has been launched at an impressive ceremony in Accra.
The JGNEC, the flagship contest of the Junior Graphic, a newspaper brand under the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), was launched by the Director, Marketing and Sales of GCGL, Franklin Sowa.
He was supported by the Director, Finance and Administration, Samuel Essel; the Editor of Junior Graphic, Hannah Amoah; the Municipal Director of Education for Ledzokuku-Teshie,
Theresa Tetteh, and the Country Team Lead for Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank Ghana, Enoch Vanderpuye.
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On the theme, "Nurturing Creativity: The Role of Reading and Writing," the competition is to provide learners in upper primary and junior high school (JHS) with an opportunity to express their views on relevant issues, expand their knowledge and broaden their world view.
In his address, Mr Sowa encouraged schoolchildren to participate in the competition to enhance their reading and writing skills.
He also urged them to attend workshops that would be organised in various regions, where examiners would educate learners on essay writing techniques to support their academic growth and success in the competition.
The Editor of Junior Graphic stated that over the years, the newspaper had consistently informed, educated and entertained readers while providing a platform for students to express their opinions.
She further emphasised that the JGNEC was introduced to enhance reading and writing skills among upper primary and JHS students and encouraged them to actively participate and strive for the ultimate prize.
Mrs Tetteh commended the Junior Graphic for providing a platform for children to learn. She encouraged students to take full advantage of the opportunity and remain dedicated to their studies.
Mr Vanderpuye congratulated past winners on their dedication to writing and reiterated FirstBank Ghana’s commitment to supporting the competition.
He stated that the sponsorship aimed to empower learners to contribute positively to their communities.
“We are pleased to partner with the Junior Graphic to organise the essay contest. Our Corporate Social Responsibility initiative is aimed at driving long-term impact on our community.
Once we have a literate populace, capable of reading and writing, they can help solve the various challenges the country faces,” he said.
Mr Vanderpuye also announced that all winners would have the opportunity to participate in the FirstBank Ghana Junior Internship Programme.
As part of the initiative, children aged 10 to 14 can open an account with the bank and, during the long vacation, gain hands-on experience through internship at any branch of the bank.
During the internship, they will take on roles such as customer service officers and assist with back-office tasks, among other responsibilities.
For his part, the Brands Manager of Peeva Beverages, Mr Courage Kodo, said the JGNEC was a healthy competition for children to learn, adding that it was the reason for their sponsorship.
The competition is sponsored by FirstBank Ghana, Papaye and Peeva Beverages.
2024 winners rewarded
At the launch, the 10 winners of the 2024 competition were also rewarded for their outstanding performances.
The overall winner, Nathaniel Mawuli Agbozo-Ayeh of St Dominic R/C Basic School, Akwatia, in the Eastern Region, received GH¢2,500, a tablet and a certificate of participation.
In the second place, James Kwame Anti of University Junior High School, Cape Coast, in the Central Region, took home GH¢2,000, a tablet, and a certificate.
The third-place winner, Nicole Naa Lamley Mills, a former student of Christ the King School, Accra, received GH¢1,500, a tablet, and a certificate.
Participants who placed fourth to ninth each received GH¢500 and a certificate.
They included Abena Ayepah Koomson of St Paul Methodist JHS, Tema; Joseph Frimpong Asare of Ideel Community School, Accra; Obaa Yaa Frimpong of Silicon Valley International School;
Aaron Kofi Danquah of Winterfell School, Obuasi in the Ashanti Region; Christabel Naa Torshie Abbey of Dar-Es-Salaam ‘A’ JHS, Accra; Eugenia Kissiwaa Frimpong of St. Anthony R/C JHS, Nkawkaw, in the Eastern Region and Innarh Nau Nyande of the St Jude Catholic School, Accra.
Past winners
The competition started in 2011. Over the years, the winners of the JGNEC have won amazing prizes, including cash, laptops, tablets, desktop computers, and souvenirs from sponsors.
For three consecutive years, the overall winners in each competition had the privilege of meeting with the sitting President at the Jubilee House and travelling with him to The United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America (USA).
During their visit to New York, they visited some interesting sites, participated in educative summits and interacted with children and people from different parts of the world.
Contest
The competition will be in two phases – the preliminary and final stages. At the preliminary stage, the students will write their essays in the comfort of their homes and submit them.
Out of that number, 50 students would be shortlisted to take the final test, which would be supervised by officials of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) in the various regions.
Before the contest, workshops are organised across the country for schoolchildren to equip them with skills to have a great command of the English language and improve their writing skills.
