Gare – Gbane JHS wins maiden inter-school quiz on uses, effects of Mercury
Gare-Gbane Junior High School in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region has beaten the likes of Datoku Junior High School, Gbane B Junior High School and Zalewore Junior High School to win the Upper East Region edition of the Inter-School Mercury Club competition.
The competition was organized by the implementing partners of the Responsive Engagement and Collective Learning Approaches to Inform Mercury Substitution in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (RECLAIMS- ASGM) project; Fund for Peace, the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP)-Ghana. The project is funded by the US Department of State.
Amongst others, the mercury education club was established by the project to sensitize students on the harmful effects of mercury exposure.
It was expected that the members of the club would become ambassadors in their various communities to educate their parents, friends and other stakeholders on the effects of mercury exposure.
Speaking to the media after the event after the event, a Programmes Manager at Fund For Peace, Christopher Nyarko explained that sometime last year, his outfit engaged four Junior High Schools in selected mining communities to establish education clubs. The clubs were to serve as an avenue for the students to learn about the harmful effects of mercury exposure.
According to Mr. Nyarko, the schools were selected based on their close proximity to the pilot mining site (Nalamtaaba Mine) in the Talensi District.
“In the Upper East Region, we set up four School Educational Clubs known as the Mercury Education Clubs. As the name suggests, the whole idea is to sensitize children of school going age about the harmful effects of mercury and how they can also protect themselves against exposure to mercury. Also, to make them ambassadors, so that when they go out they can also educate their families and colleagues about how they can protect themselves from mercury exposure.
“And I am so happy seeing these kids come up confidently to compete. The knowledge they have gained from participating in the programme will position them as resourceful ambassadors in the efforts to curb mercury use and its harmful effects on the environment and humanity.”
Miss Abigail Borizina, a contestant for Datoko Junior High School, thanked the organisers for the initiative and urged her colleagues to be confident in themselves. She encouraged other competitors to ready themselves ahead of the next competition next year.
Items received by the participating schools include Certificates of Participation, boxes of chalk, wall clocks, note and exercise books, pens, bags, water bottles and other souvenirs. It must be noted that the US Embassy donated some of the souvenirs that were given to the participants and schools.
The Talensi District Director of Education, Madam Christiana Ayinezooya, thanked the organisers for the programme and also urged students to take advantage of similar initiatives to expand their knowledge base.
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