The 2018 Commonwealth Day has been observed across 53 countries around the world.The annual event is held on the second Monday in March and is observed by Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.
Students of Ghana International School (GIS) marked the day at an observation ceremony organized by The Royal Commonwealth Society.The event saw many high profile dignitaries. It also brought together both Local and International Schools from across the country.The programme had Organizers, High Commissioners, Invited Guests,and Keynote Speakers take turns presenting their speeches. It launched the 2018 Commonwealth Queen’s Essay Competition and awarded winners from the previous year.
The highlight of the day’s celebrations saw GIS MUN (Model United Nations) students simulating the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the British Council.
Fourteen confident and eloquent students, all from Upper Secondary, role-played the Heads of Governments. They addressed the negative impact of plastic production and appropriate waste management measures. They also debated on its effects on the climate and the environment.
These students represented each of the regions of the Commonwealth and used their assigned country’s policies. They wrote and presented speeches in favour of or against a proposed resolution.
GIS students, by virtue of their consistent performances at Model UN conferences both here in Ghana and abroad, put up an impressive performance which earned them awards on the day. The best delegates for their region were: Dipasha Kandra (Kenya), Ruchika Mehta (Australia),Kushi Nesarikar (Malta), Shambhavi Verma (India) and Zaneta Otoo (Guyana). The Secretary General and Vice spearheaded by, Joshuana Korankye-Ankrah and Maxwell Kwame Akrasi respectively were both awarded for their outstanding performances.
A total of ten students from Ghana International School who took part in the this year’s Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition took home bronze and silver awards.
GIS was also proud to donate copies of the Principal’s Amazon award winning novel Tuesday’s Child to deserving students from La Wireless Cluster of Schools, Accra Girls Senior High School, Accra Academy School, Dzorwulu A and B Primary and Holy Trinity Cathedral Senior High School who read the Queen’s speech to the joy of the entire audience.
The Commonwealth’s major ideals and values are to promote democracy, understanding of each other, rule of law and equality across member states. Ghana International School continues to honour its heritage through participation in these events.