NAVA M/A Basic School wins maiden Nsawam-Adoagyiri schools climate change competition with strong environmental advocacy

Nsawam, Ghana. NAVA M/A Basic School has emerged as the winner of the inaugural schools’ climate change competition organised for selected schools in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality.
The school scored 70 points, narrowly edging out Nana Osae Djan Basic School, which finished second with 67 points, and Adoagyiri R/C Basic School, which placed third with 65 points. Nsawam Presby Basic School and Reverend Father Wieggers Basic School followed with 64.5 and 63 points, respectively.

The top five schools were presented with trash bins and baskets for their participation, while the winning school received a cash prize in addition to these items. The competition was organised by Greener Impact International (GII), a climate and environment advocacy group, in partnership with the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly, as part of GII’s Campaign Against Methane Emission in Ghana (CAMEG). The initiative promotes waste segregation and environmental stewardship among students.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr Timothy Apeanti, Project Coordinator at GII, said early exposure to environmental advocacy equips students to champion best practices in their schools and communities. “We believe learners need to be empowered on environmental issues so that they carry the climate change information. Once they have this knowledge, going forward, it will remain with them,” he said. Mr Apeanti added that the competition had built the students’ capacity in environmental advocacy, preparing them to serve as ambassadors for climate action. He further revealed plans to launch additional initiatives, including the formation of environmental clubs to sustain sanitation and waste management practices in schools.

Nana Baah Forson, School Health Education Programme Coordinator for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality, commended GII for its contributions to sanitation and climate advocacy. He noted that school sanitation had improved over time through collaborations with the organisation and called for adequate waste bins to promote waste segregation and recycling.

At the winning school, Mr Philip Kwasi Kadja, a teacher at NAVA M/A Basic School, highlighted that the competition had enhanced their understanding of proper waste management. The students had even created trash bins from plastic waste, which are now used for collecting refuse and maintaining designated dumping areas in the school.

The competition underscores growing efforts to instil environmental responsibility among young Ghanaians and demonstrates the impact of community partnerships in promoting climate awareness at the grassroots level.