OKESS Secures Round of 16 Berths in Luv FM Debate

Afigyaman SHS and OKESS Secure Round of 16 Berths in Thrilling Luv FM Debate

Afigyaman SHS and OKESS Shine in Preliminary Stage

Afigyaman SHS and Osei Kyeretwie SHS (OKESS) have secured places in the Round of 16 of the 2026 LUV FM Kel Charcoal Toothpaste High School Debate after contrasting victories brought the preliminary stage to an exciting close. The two schools, along with Anglican SHS and New Edubiase SHS, will join the competition's highest-scoring non-winning schools in the knockout phase.

Narrow Victory for Afigyaman SHS

Afigyaman SHS edged fellow debutants New Edubiase SHS by just four points in Contest 9, where the motion was "Tablets supplied by the government to students in SHS should be withdrawn." Afigyaman argued in the affirmative, saying the government should redirect resources towards more pressing challenges in schools, including infrastructure and essential learning materials. New Edubiase, however, mounted a strong opposition, challenging Afigyaman's arguments and making the contest a closely fought affair. Afigyaman eventually secured a 227–223 majority victory, advancing to the next stage by a slim four-point margin.

The Afigyaman debaters expressed confidence in their preparation, saying "It may be our first time, but we have prepared adequately and we are here to make a statement." New Edubiase's strong score would prove crucial in the competition.

OKESS Secures Unanimous Victory

The final preliminary contest saw OKESS take on Oppon Memorial SHS on the motion: "The Concept of Free Speech is Dead on Arrival of a New Government." OKESS argued in favour of the motion, contending that changes in government could introduce laws, policies, and regulations capable of affecting the practical exercise of free speech. OMESS, which opposed the motion, maintained that constitutional protections and existing laws guarantee freedom of expression and prevent a change of government from simply taking away that fundamental right. OKESS countered with practical examples of how government policies and regulations could influence the extent to which people exercise their freedom of speech. The school maintained its advantage through the final round of rebuttals to secure a 248–204 unanimous victory.

New Edubiase SHS Qualifies for Round of 16

With the preliminary stage now concluded, the competition's highest-scorer rule has handed two losing schools a second chance. Anglican SHS and New Edubiase SHS emerged as the two highest-scoring non-winning schools and have therefore qualified for the Round of 16. For New Edubiase, the qualification provides a welcome reprieve after its narrow defeat to Afigyaman. The school's 223 points were enough to keep its campaign alive despite failing to win the contest.

Round of 16 to Kick Off

The knockout stage will demand more than strong arguments. Schools will need a combination of research, composure, rebuttal skills, and strategic thinking to survive. With the field narrowing, every point could prove decisive as the competition moves into its next chapter. The LUV FM Kel Charcoal Toothpaste High School Debate will feature defending champions Prempeh College, raising expectations for another intense battle for the 2026 crown.

Source: JOY