The Spelling Bee
GenreSpelling bee
FrequencyAnnual (1st Saturday of February)
Location(s)Ghana
Inaugurated2007
WebsiteOfficial website

The Spelling Bee (commonly called The Spelling Bee Ghana or TSB) is an annual spelling bee held in Ghana since 2007.

The competition is run by a not-for-profit charity founded by Ghanaian Entrepreneur, CEO of the Young Educators Foundation, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, Programmes Manager, Salomé Dzakpasu, School Coordinator, Johnson Appiah and assisted by a team of educators, professionals, and volunteers.[1][2][3]

The Spelling Bee, targeted at students between the ages of 7 – 13, seeks to build their capacity on the rudiments of spelling and English language usage.[4]

The Spelling Bee is a franchise of Scripps National Spelling Bee run in the United States.

Since its inception, the winners of the competition have represented Ghana at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.[5]

History[6]

The Spelling Bee began in 2007 with only six schools taking part. Maria Isabel Kubabom from SOS Herman Gmeiner School, Tema won the first edition by successfully spelling “Denigratory”  and proceeded to the USA to represent Ghana in the international competition.

Maria's appearance at the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee made history as the first time an African participated in this international contest. For almost two decades, Ghana remains the only African country participating in this prestigious international competition.

The Spelling Bee has evolved; for instance, since March 2020, at the start of the 16th edition, the 4-tiered spelling program has been conducted both virtually and in-person, with the Preliminaries, Quarter-Finals being done virtually and the Semi-Finals and National-Finals taking place in-person.

Originally with only a seat at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, since 2022, The Spelling Bee has secured two additional seats where two high-performing spellers (known in the competition's jargon as Yellow Bees) join the Champion for the Scripps Bee.[7]

History-making Spellers[7]

  • Maria Kubabom: 1st ever champion (2008)
  • Philemon Awan: 1st Champion from Ho (2012)
  • Afua Ansah: 1st speller from Ghana to make it to the Scripps Bee finals (2016)
  • Shifa Amankwa-Gabbey: 1st champion from Kumasi and 1st Speller to appear on CNN’s African Voices (2018)
  • Kwabena Darko-Asare: made it to the top 100 at the Scripps Bee (2019)
  • N’Adom Darko-Asare: won the competition for two consecutive years (2022 & 2023)
  • Mychelle Kumah: made it to the semi-finals at the Scripps Bee (2023)

Partners and Sponsors

The Spelling Bee has been sponsored and supported[8][9] over the years by Indomie Ghana,[10][11] MTN Ghana,[12] US Embassy in Ghana,[13] USAID,[14] MultiChoice Ghana,[15] Kenya Airways, GOIL PLC, Ashesi University, Rufus Green Parks, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, Citi 97.3 FM/Citi TV, Business and Financial Times, and many others.[16][13]

List of winners

Edition Year Winners Photo Championship word School Location
1st 2008 Maria Isabel Yirebatiya Kubabom[17]
2008 The Spelling Bee Champion Maria Isabel Yirebatiya Kubabom
 Denigratory SOS Herman Gmeinner School Tema, Greater Accra
2nd 2009 Nana Adjoa Baiden-Amissah[18][19]
2009 The Spelling Bee Champion Nana Adjoa Baiden-Amissah
 Bombilation Crown Prince Academy Accra, Greater Accra Region
3rd 2010 Darren Sackey[20][21]
2010 The Spelling Bee Champion Darren Sackey
 Roulade Achimota Basic School Achimota, Greater Accra Region
4th 2011 Jessica Penu[22][23]
2011 The Spelling Bee Champion Jessica Penu
 Velocipede Angels School Tema, Greater Accra
5th 2012 Philemon Apiente Awan[12][24]
2012 The Spelling Bee Champion Philomon Apiente Awan
 Mariculture Holy Spirit Catholic Preparatory School Ho, Volta Region
6th 2013 Rohit Sahijwani[25][26]
2013 The Spelling Bee Champion Rohit Sahijwani
 Jicama Delhi Public School (DPS)

International Ghana

 Tema, Greater Accra Region
7th 2014 Khushi Jeswani[27]
2014 The Spelling Bee Champion Khushi Jeswani
 Olestra Delhi Public School (DPS)

International Ghana

 Tema, Greater Accra Region
8th 2015 Vishal Mukesh Thakwani[28][29]
2015 The Spelling Bee Champion Vishal Thakwani
 Xiphias Delhi Public School (DPS)

International Ghana

 Tema, Greater Accra Region
9th 2016 Afua Manukure Ansah[10][30]
2016 The Spelling Bee Champion Afuah Ansah
 Zanni Ridge Church School Accra, Greater Accra Region
10th 2017 Lily Tugbah[31][32]
2017 The Spelling Bee Champion Lily Mawuena Tugbah
 Baculiform Solidarity International School Ashaiman, Greater Accra Region
11th 2018 Shifa Amankwa-Gabbey[33][34]
2018 The Spelling Bee Champion Shifa Amankwa-Gabbey
 Wamara Nagie's Angels Educational Centre Kumasi, Ashanti Region
12th 2019 Kwabena Adu Darko-Asare[13][35]
2019 The Spelling Bee Champion Kwabena Adu Darko-Asare
 Baldenfreude Delhi Public School (DPS)

International Ghana

 Tema, Greater Accra Region
13th 2020 Nadia Chelpang Mashoud[36]
2020 The Spelling Bee Champion Nadia Chelpang Mashoud
 Empanoply Alhassan Gbanzaba Memorial School Tamale, Northern Region
14th 2021 Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange[37][38][39]
2021 The Spelling Bee Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange
 Amaxophobia Roman Ridge School Accra, Greater Accra Region
15th 2022 N’Adom Darko-Asare[40]
2022 The Spelling Bee Champion N’Adom Darko-Asare
 Bathypelagic DPS International Ghana Tema, Greater Accra Region
16th 2023 N’Adom Darko-Asare[41]
2023 The Spelling Bee Champion N’Adom Darko-Asare
 Douroucouli DPS International Ghana Tema, Greater Accra Region

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Us - Young Educators Foundation". 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. ↑ "Eugenia Tachie-Menson, the star of the Spelling Bee Ghana". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  3. ↑ "Eugenia Tachie-Menson - Vlisco ambassadors - inspiring African women". Vlisco. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  4. ↑ "Scripps National Spelling Bee". spellingbee.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  5. ↑ "The Spelling Bee - It's More Than Just Spelling". thespellingbeegh.org. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  6. ↑ "The Spelling Bee Ghana marks 15 years of representing Ghana and Africa". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  7. 1 2 "About Us - The Spelling Bee". thespellingbeegh.org. 2020-02-01. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  8. ↑ "Lily Tugbah is 2017 National Spelling Bee winner". www.ghanaweb.com. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  9. ↑ "Lily Tugbah is 2017 National Spelling Bee champion [Photos]". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  10. 1 2 "Give us another Spelling Bee finalist- Indomie - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  11. ↑ "Indomie presents scholarship to 2016 Spelling Bee winner". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  12. 1 2 ghanaian-chronicle.com (2012-02-17). "MTN CONGRATULATES SPELLING BEE WINNERS". News Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  13. 1 2 3 "U.S. Embassy Welcomes Spelling Bee Champion". U.S. Embassy in Ghana. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  14. ↑ "First-Ever Spelling Bee in Ghanaian Language to Promote Reading | Archive - U.S. Agency for International Development". 2012-2017.usaid.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  15. ↑ "Multichoice Ghana Supports Spelling Bee". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  16. ↑ Segbefia, Sedem (2021-02-06). "Tween Talk with Eugenia Tachie-Menson: What's all that buzzing about?". The Business & Financial Times. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  17. ↑ "Ghana's Spelling Bee rep arrives home". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  18. ↑ "Spelling Bee Ghana 2009 Winner Arriving in the US". www.ghanaweb.com. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Nana Adjoa makes Ghana proud at Spelling Bee - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  20. ↑ Kitcher (Mrs), Mavis (2010-02-10). Junior Graphic: Issue 479 February 10-16 2010. Graphic Communications Group.
  21. ↑ Tetteh, Nii Okai (2020-12-22). "Dr Darren Sackey: Ghana's 2010 Spelling Bee Champion Is Now A Medical Doctor". Kuulpeeps - Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  22. ↑ Daily Graphic. Graphic Communications Group.
  23. ↑ Kitcher (Mrs), Mavis (2011-06-29). Junior Graphic: Issue 547 June 29-July 5 2011. Graphic Communications Group.
  24. ↑ Kitcher (Mrs), Mavis (2010-12-08). Junior Graphic: Issue 520 December 8-14 2010. Graphic Communications Group.
  25. ↑ "2014 Spelling Bee Winner Receives Laptop". News Ghana. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  26. ↑ "Delta Air Lines Awards Winner of Ghana National Spelling Bee". Delta News Hub. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  27. ↑ "Kushi Jeswani wins Spelling Bee". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  28. ↑ Adjorlolo, Ruth Abla. "2015 Spelling Bee champion urges 2016 finalists not to entertain fear". www.gbcghana.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  29. ↑ "Vishal Thakwani wins 2015 Spelling Bee National finals - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  30. ↑ "Ghanaian Teen Makes Africa Proud By Advancing to America's National Spelling Bee Finals". Face2Face Africa. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  31. ↑ "Lily Tugbah is 2017 National Spelling Bee champion [Photos]". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  32. ↑ "Lily Tugbah is 2017 National Spelling Bee winner". www.ghanaweb.com. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  33. ↑ "12-year-old debutant wins 2018 National Spelling Bee". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  34. ↑ "Shifa Amankwa-Gabbey is 2018 National Spelling Bee winner". www.ghanaweb.com. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  35. ↑ "DPS International Student wins Ghana Spelling Bee title". www.ghanaweb.com. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  36. ↑ "This African champ spells success e-m-p-a-n-o-p-l-y". Christian Science Monitor. 2020-02-06. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  37. ↑ Crabbe, Nathaniel (2021-02-07). "11-year-old Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange wins 2021 Spelling Bee competition". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  38. ↑ Tetteh, Nii Okai (2021-02-06). "Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange Wins 2021 National Spelling Bee". Kuulpeeps - Ghana Campus News and Lifestyle Site by Students. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  39. ↑ "11-year old Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange wins 2021 edition of The Spelling Bee competition". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  40. ↑ "N'Adom Darko-Asare wins 2022 edition of The Spelling Bee competition". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2022-02-05. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  41. ↑ "The Spelling Bee 2023: N'Adom Darko-Asare retains title in impressive style". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
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