A 14-year-old junior high school pupil Abdul Yazid Faraj Timtoni Wumbei, who represented the Northern Region in the 2024 Schools Sanitation Solution (Triple S) challenge, was crowned late Monday as the new Child Sanitation Diplomat for the 2024/25 school year.
With 54 points, Master Wumbei from the Grace Holy Child Academy in the Tamale Metropolis, shrugged off competition from his closest competitor Esi Abakah Owusu of the University of Cape Coast Junior High School, to become the first ever male to win the coveted title since its inception some five seasons ago.
Speaking to the media, the newly crowned child sanitation diplomat told said he chose to participate in the competition due to his concern for sanitation.
He disclosed that his first attempt was last year, and although he did not get selected, he decided to try again this year.
“Sanitation is essential for human development. It impacts our health, wellbeing, and economic prosperity as a nation,” Master Wumbei stated.
Throughout the competition, the new child sanitation diplomat said he was confident he would become the first male to hold the title, to continue from where the first four winners who were all females have left off.
“My role as a child sanitation diplomat will be in creating advocacy and awareness in the communities and among the youth, making them aware of the sanitation issues in the country and how we can solve them by ourselves,” pledged.
In a speech read for her, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, noted that sanitation is a shared responsibility, adding that the Triple S challenge would instil the needed sanitation culture in the young ones to play their roles as sanitation ambassadors.
She appealed to the stakeholders in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector to continue grooming the future leaders with the right sets of skills to be change agents wherever they find themselves.
In her welcome remarks, Laura Christina Del Valle, National Director for World Vision (WVG) Ghana, said the goal of the organization is for every child to live life in all its fullness.
“We believe that nothing can be more important to children’s wellbeing than access to safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene.
That is why we prioritize and promote access to sustainable WASH services in communities,” Madam Del Valle said.
At the end of the competition, Miss Esi Abakah Owusu of the University of Cape Coast Junior High School (JHS) placed second with 53 points, Miss Candy Nana Adwoa Okwan of the Achimota Basic School, placed third with 41.5 points, while Miss Christiana Sefakor Sedenkor came fourth with 38.5 points.
The Triple S challenge is an annual competition organized by the WVG, in collaboration with the Kings Hall Media Limited, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, GAMA SWP, and the Zoomlion Foundation for basic school pupils in Ghana.
Since 2020 pupils from primary six to JHS two have participated in the competition, seeking to influence children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change in their schools, communities, and wherever they find themselves.
