Artaldus Sung Kuuntanaa, Basic 9 pupil of the Accra College of Education Demonstration School, has been declared Child Sanitation Diplomat for 2025-26, at the grand finale of the Sixth School Sanitations Solution (Triple S) Challenge competition.
The 13 year-old boy, who scored 174.2 points to beat three other finalists, received a certificate, a plaque, a laptop computer and other prizes, all totaling to GHC 41, 149.
He will be supported to implement a one-year project on environmental sanitation.
He may also have the chance to travel abroad to influence world leaders and other children for better sanitation practices.
The laureate was decorated with a sash by his predecessor Abdul Yazid Faraj Timtoni, as he stood in the company of the Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, National Director of World Vision Ghana (WVG) Tina Mukanda, previous past Child Sanitation Diplomats, and other officials at the grand finale which came off on Monday at the National Theatre, Accra.
The grand finale was held on the theme: “Raising a New Sanitation-Conscious Generation”.
The finals were preceded by the Fourth Children Sanitation Festival 2025, which aimed to educate young minds about critical sanitation and hygiene issues and emphasise the importance of maintaining a clean environment.
The event featured activities, including drama, dance, poetry, music, storytelling, and spoken word performances, to educate and entertain participants.
It sought to build in the children the need to prioritise sanitation and effective waste management from their homes to the national level.
There were also exhibitions showcasing sanitation products and innovations from various institutions and students.
The Triple S Challenge is an annual competition is and annual competition organised since 2020 by the Christian humanitarian organisation World Vision Ghana (WVG), jointly with the Kings Hall Media Limited, the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Zoomlion Foundation, among other partners for Basic Schools.
It was meant to encourage children to cultivate keen interest in issues of basic environmental sanitation.
It was also to influence children to become sanitation conscious and agents of change, build the capacity of children and challenge them to co-create sustainable solutions to sanitation challenges around them and advocate the removal of barriers and the promotion of increased access to improved sanitation in Basic Schools and communities.
The elated laureate was among thousands of contestants nationwide wrote on the topic essay topic: “The President of the Republic of Ghana has declared SANITATION as a top priority in his administration, and has gone ahead to make this a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for all newly appointed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
“As one of these MMDCEs, outline you vision and the steps you will take to ensure improved basic sanitation and the steps you will take to ensure improved basic sanitation and sustainable waste management in your Metropolis, Municipality, or District?”
Artaldus, together with the other runners up- Desiree Ohemaa Amponsah Duah of Ashanti Goldfields Bibiani Limited Basic School, Bibiani, Western North Region; Emmanuella Kolbila of Charis Christian Academy, Walewale in the North East Region; and Kwabena Owusu Nyarko of Yiadom Boakye Demonstration B Basic School in Berekum, Bono Region-whose scripts made to the semifinal stage, dubbed “Masters Encounter” verbally defended their marked scripts successfully before selected examiners and subject matter experts.
Desiree, the first runner up, had 170.0 points; Emmanuella had 163.6 points; and Kwabena, 149.6 points.
The other finalists received prizes for themselves and their schools
At the grand finale, private legal practitioner and renowned radio quizmaster of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) of “What Do You Know?” fame Dan Afari Yeboah and GBC News WASH Hour Host Doreen Ampofo grilled the finalists, and a panel of experts awarded marks to the contestants.
In a keynote address, Mr. Ibrahim, commended the WVG and its partners for the initiative and stressed on the need to build the capacity of children and invest much time energy and resources in them as future leaders and present influencers in the fight against poor and indiscriminate sanitation and waste disposal.
“When children are empowered, communities are empowered,” Mr. Ibrahim stressed.
He urged religious leaders in Ghana to embrace sanitation theology and use their platforms to cause and influence behavioral change on environmental sanitation among their followers.
“When you refuse to litter, you are saving Ghana,” the Minister said, emphasising sanitation not as a side issue, but being central to national development.
World Vision National Director Tina Mukadi commended the contestants for displaying exceptional advocacy and problem-solving skills and assured them of support to actualise their projects.
GNA
