Ten brilliant Scrabble players in both boys and girls U-15 and three U19 have qualified to represent Ghana at the African Youth Scrabble Championship to be held at Brighton International Academy in Kenya in August 2025, after a one-day Youth Scrabble Champions Qualifiers at the Accra Technical University Main Auditorium on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Organised by the Scrabble Association of Ghana (SCAG), the event was not only to qualify the young men and women to Kenya in August, but also to sharpen their tactical skills and abilities.
In the U-15 division, Michael Somuah came tops winning all 6 games with +1222 cumulative spread, while Kweku Ebbah Kumi followed winning 5 games with a spread of 658. Krankye Branor Appiah, Beatrice Adjoa Sam Omidiji, Isaac Cudjoe Mensah, Kayla Naa Ardua Tagoe, Etornam Nador Ajo and Esther Nhyiraba Shehu all won 5 games each.
Completing the 10 slots are Isaac Papa yaw Omidiji and Victoria Adzikah Precious who both won 4 games and with spread advantage (+539 & +211) over 5 other players who won 4 games too.
The U-19 category Delali Aquila winning all 8 games to emerge winner with +1695 spread, while Perpetual Dotse of ATU followed after winning 4 games. Richard Nii Anang secured the final slot with 3 wins, while Stephen Appiah, the only other player left missed out, losing 7 games.
The entertaining but quiet display of wild thoughts and formation of words saw a Club all the way from Tarkwa, giving great competition to the lads in Accra.
While the winners express joy in qualifying to Kenya in August, coordinator for the event and World number 8 (Ghana’s all-time best player), Charles Haizel Tachie Menson believes Ghana can produce an African Champion in the next 10 years.
“This event is the first of its kind in the history of SCAG. It is the aim of the Scrabble Association of Ghana, to promote the game via schools across the country.’
“Hopefully, in the next 10 years, Ghana will be able to produce an African Champion. The Association, led by Capt. Haruna Adamu has embarked on the distribution of Scrabble boards and equipment to selected schools.” He added.
The Nairobi-Brighton International Academy Championship is slated for August 14-17 2025 and Ghana’s players are expected to shine.
The Scrabble Association of Ghana is also feverishly preparing to host the World-English Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in November at the Rock City Hotel, with about 40 countries across the World ready to battle on the boards for pride and passion.
With Kenya being the only other African country to host the World in 2019, Ghana, will see the likes of, Nigel Richards of New Zealand (Highest rank in the World, with 5 titles) and Wellington Jighere of Nigeria (Only African to win World Championship) will be in Ghana.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
