Author: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
Ten outstanding U-15 players and three U-19 competitors have earned the right to represent Ghana at the upcoming African Youth Scrabble Championship to be hosted at the Brighton International Academy in Kenya, this August.
The Youth Scrabble Champions Qualifiers, organized by the Scrabble Association of Ghana (SCAG), took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Accra Technical University (ATU) Main Auditorium, serving both as a competitive selection and a skills development exercise for the young minds.
U-15: Michael Somuah Leads with a Perfect Run-
In the U-15 category, Michael Somuah dominated the event, winning all 6 games with an impressive cumulative spread of +1222. He was closely followed by Kweku Ebbah Kumi, who secured 5 wins and a spread of +658.
Other top performers who each recorded 5 wins included: Krankye Branor Appiah, Beatrice Adjoa Sam Omidiji, Isaac Cudjoe Mensah, Kayla Naa Ardua Tagoe, Etornam Nador Ajo and Esther Nhyiraba Shehu.
The final two U-15 slots went to Isaac Papa Yaw Omidiji and Victoria Adzikah Precious, who both finished with 4 wins each but edged out 5 other contenders based on superior spread margins (+539 and +211 respectively).
U-19: Delali Aquila Unstoppable with 8/8 Wins-
In the U-19 division, Delali Aquila was in a league of his own, winning all 8 games with a staggering +1695 spread.
Perpetual Dotse of Accra Technical University earned the second spot with 4 wins, while Richard Nii Anang claimed the final ticket with 3 victories.
Stephen Appiah, the only other U-19 contender, missed out after suffering 7 losses.
Tarkwa Club Shows Promise Amid Accra Dominance
The quiet intensity of the games belied the mental warfare waged on the boards. Notably, a scrabble club from Tarkwa brought stiff competition to the Accra-based talents, showing how the game is gradually spreading across the regions of Ghana.
Vision for the Future: “We Will Produce an African Champion”- Charles Haizel
Coordinator of the event and World No. 8, Charles Haizel Tachie Menson, was confident about Ghana’s future in Scrabble.
“This is the first of its kind in the history of SCAG,” he noted. “It is our aim to promote the game via schools nationwide. Hopefully, in the next 10 years, Ghana will produce an African Champion.”
“Under the leadership of Captain Haruna Adamu, SCAG has begun distributing Scrabble boards and educational materials to schools to strengthen grassroots development.” He added.
Road to Kenya and Beyond: Ghana’s Scrabble Calendar Packed
The African Youth Championship in Nairobi is scheduled for August 14–17, 2025, and Ghana’s newly selected players will be gearing up to shine on the continental stage.
Meanwhile, Ghana is also preparing to host the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in November 2025 at the Rock City Hotel. Over 40 countries are expected to participate.
Notable players expected to grace Ghana’s board battles include Nigel Richards of New Zealand (five-time world champion) and Wellington Jighere of Nigeria (the only African to win a world title).
Source: #TalksenseSports