Bookworm crowns winners of 2026 schools competition in Accra

Bookworm has crowned winners in three categories of its 2026 schools competition following a grand finale held in Accra on Saturday, October 24.

Isabela Ayidah of Hertford International Christian School emerged winner in the upper primary category with a score of 96.43 per cent, while Godiva Koomson of Hallmark International School won the lower primary category with 96.50 per cent.

In the junior high school category, Tsevi Othnel of Charlotte Memorial School emerged winner with 93.50 per cent.

The competition, organised to promote reading, comprehension and communication skills among schoolchildren, brought together 33 schools for the Greater Accra grand finale.

Speaking after the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Bookworm, Nelson Kofi Poku, said the initiative was aimed at helping children develop their talents and build confidence beyond conventional classroom learning.

He urged parents and teachers to encourage pupils to participate in educational competitions and other extracurricular activities, saying these platforms could expose them to opportunities for further education and personal development.

“We are living in a society where your performance in the classroom alone is not enough to excel,” he said.

Mr Poku explained that Bookworm had operated for nearly a decade and expanded its activities to about 10 regions across Ghana.

The Greater Accra finale was the third regional competition organised by the initiative in October, following events in the Eastern Region on October 10 and the Ashanti Region on October 16.

He said the programme was open to pupils from both public and private schools, with the aim of providing an inclusive platform for children to demonstrate their abilities.

The competition featured several stages, including storytelling, summarising passages and answering comprehension questions. A segment known as Knowing Your Parents was also designed to strengthen relationships between children and their parents.

Mr Poku said winners receive 50 per cent scholarships for one year, while ultimate winners are also awarded laptops.

Selected top performers also benefit from sponsorship arrangements covering 50 per cent of the cost of trips to Dubai, providing opportunities for international exposure.

He said the initiative would continue to support children's academic development, nurture their talents and equip them with skills that could help them excel in the future.