The maiden edition of Taadi FM's Mother Tongue Essay Competition in the Western Region has been won by Ms. Christiana Yankey, a 13-year-old JHS 2 student of Bethel Methodist Basic School in Takoradi.

The competition, launched on February 21, 2025, aimed to promote the use and appreciation of local languages among students in the Western Region.

Ms. Ayesha Cece of Bethel Methodist Basic School emerged as the first runner-up, while Elorm Idda of Amazing Child Preparatory School secured third place.

The awards ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries, including representatives of the MP for Takoradi , Deputy Western Regional Director of Education Dr. Daniel Payin, Mad. Charity Baah, Metro Education PRO for STMA, and Mr. Elwood Akuoko Mantey, General Manager of Taadi FM.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Western Regional Director of Education at the awards ceremony, Dr. Daniel Payin emphasised the significance of mother tongue in a child's education.

He stated that mother tongue serves as the foundation of cognitive and linguistic development, ensures preservation and passage of indigenous languages, and enhances comprehension and confidence in early learning.

Dr. Payin, therefore, encouraged parents and teachers to foster an environment that promotes mother tongue usage among school-going children, saying, "Teaching students in their mother tongue not only ensures the preservation and passage of the indigenous language, but the mother tongue serves as the foundation of a child’s cognitive and linguistic development.

learning to read and write in one’s first language enhances comprehension and confidence in early learning."

Mr. Elwood Akuoko Mantey, General Manager of Taadi FM, thanked the Western Regional Minister, the Regional and Metropolitan Education Directorate, the National Commission on Culture, the NCCE, and Homii Tablets for lending the necessary support to make the competition a reality.

Ms. Christiana Yankey received exciting prizes, including a GHC 1000 cash prize, a tablet from Hommie Mobile, books and stationery, and other prizes