Ghana: Report - Quiz competition – 2019 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction [IDDRR]
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) is a day (13th of October each year) set aside by the United Nations (UN) to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster risk reduction (DRR). The day is meant to show how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reducing risks.
To celebrate the day in Ghana for 2019, the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) and the Ghana National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in partnership with the Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB DRR) under the African Union Commission (AUC) organised a Quiz. The competition was meant to increase the knowledge of people especially young on DRR to empower them to be active implementers and stakeholders in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and the Programme of Action (POA). The Quiz Competition was amongst four (4) selected Senior High Schools in Ghana. The quiz was also supported by the Region of Africa Office under the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). GAYO and partners in the opening ceremony, expressed hope that this quiz would increase the contestants' and audience's knowledge of DRR principles and their connections to global development goals.
NADMO also used the opportunity to announce their 'Institutional arrangement' to engage young people in DRR strategy dubbed Catch them Young'. The opening ceremony touched on the theme for this year's IDDRR day, which was focused on Target D of the SFDRR: Substantially Reduce Disaster Damage to Critical Infrastructure and Disruption of Basic Services, Among Them Health and Educational Facilities, Including through Developing their Resilience By 2030. The Executive Director of GAYO, Mr. Joshua Amponsem, in a statement made on his behalf, stressed the importance of disaster risk-informed development planning and young people contribution to efforts as the approach to reduce Disaster Damage to Critical Infrastructure and Disruption of Basic Services. He also requested a show of hands to give an overview of people who had ever heard of either the SFDRR or the SDGs. About half of the room knew what the SDGs are but only two people in the audience apart from the contestants knew what the SFDRR is.
The selected schools who took part in the competition were Tepa Senior High School, Tamale Senior High School, West Africa Senior High School and Abuakwa State College from the Ashanti, Northern, Greater Accra, and the Eastem Regions respectively. Two contestants (1 Male and 1 Female) represented each school, making a total of 8 contestants. The Quiz attracted almost 300 participants and took place at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) on Friday, 11th October 2019 from 10 am to 2 pm. The quiz tested the contestant's knowledge on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), Programme of Action (POA), contextual Ghanaian experiences in DRR and the linkages of DRR to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dan Afari Yeboah of What do you know' fame in his usual dramatic flair conducted the Quiz which consisted of 4 rounds, each lasting 30 minutes. The atmosphere was charged with excitement amidst chants from the supporters of the various schools for their representatives competing. At the end of the competition, Tepa Senior High School placed first with 77 points amidst jubilation. They received a cash prize, eight core subject past question books (Text books) on West Africa Senior High School Certificate Exams (WASSCE) to enhance their learning, and branded materials among which were reusable drinking bottles from LoveSpring (a Danish-based NGO working with GAYO to provide water for drought-affected regions of Ghana). The West Africa Senior High School (WASS) placed second with 67 points. For their efforts, they received a cash prize too, eight senior high school core subjects text books and branded materials. The Tamale Senior High School and Abuakwa State College placed 3rd and 4th with 60 and 24 points respectively. They also received cash prizes and textbooks.
In conclusion, this maiden edition was successful as it achieved the purpose for which it was planned, that is; increase awareness on DRR in a fun way for young people to capacitate them to take action. It is hoped that the quiz would become an annual affair in Ghana's celebration of IDDRR.