Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) emerged as winners of the 12th edition of the Pan African debate competitions held in Tanzania. Rawgist.com can Confirm.
The competition was held from 5-12th December, 2018 under the theme: “Free speech. Unifying Africa” also dubbed in Kiswahili, Uhuru na Umoja.
In yet another historic achievement for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s debate team made history by becoming the first-ever Ghanaian and West Africa University to be crowned as the Pan-African Universities Debate Championship (PAUDC) champions.
Team KNUST comprising of Boakye Nyamekye Isaac and Erasmus Segbefia distinguished themselves well, displaying exceptional debate and intellectual prowess to win the competition.
Over 40 African countries participated at the continental debate showcase held at the Mlimani Campus in the city of Dar es Salaam.
The Winning team receive the bragging rights as African Champions. Traditionally, the winners of the competition receive a sitting and rotating trophy in addition to securing a spot the in the HWS Round Robin hosted annually in the month of April in by Hobart William Smith Colleges.
The Pan African Universities Debate Championships which is affectionately known as PAUDC is the biggest intercollegiate debate championships in Africa. Established in 2008 by the University of Botswana Debate Masters Association (UBDMA), it’s a competition that provides students from various African universities the opportunity to interrogate issues of African a global importance.
Since its inception, PAUDC was modelled on African unity and identity. PAUDC has been a refuge and safe space where people from all races, genders, religions and creed can articulate their beliefs and ideas without fear or favour. The 8 days long resident competition which usually takes place on the first two weeks of December has been hosted in a different country every year, giving students the chance to interact their peers and progress the sport of debate.
Previous Hosts and Winners
- 2008: Botswana, Gaborone (University of Botswana) 8-14th December 2008 (Won by the University of Free State, South Africa)
- 2009: Botswana, Gaborone (University of Botswana) 12-18th December 2009 (Won by the University of Rhodes, South Africa)
- 2010: Namibia, Winhoek (University of Namibia) 4-11th December 2010 (Won by the University of Witswatersand, South Africa)
- 2011: Zimbabwe, Bulawayo (Falcon College) 4-11th December 2011 (Won by the University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- 2012: South Africa, Pretoria (Tshwane University of Technology) 9-15th December 2012 (Won by the University of Cape Town, South Africa)
- 2013: Nigeria, Calabar (University of Calabar) November 29- December 8th2013 (Won by the University of Cape Town, South Africa)
- 2014: South Africa, Polokwane (University of Limpopo) 4-12th December 2014 (Won by the University of Botswana, Botswana)
- 2015: Ghana, Accra (University of Ghana) 8-17th December 2015 (Won by the University of Witswatersand, South Africa)
- 2016: Zimbabwe, Gweru (Midlands State University) 9-17th December 2016 (Won by the University of Witswaterand, South Africa)
- 2017: Cameroon, Buea (University of Buea) 7-15th December 2016 (Won by Midlands State University, Zimbabwe)
KNUST has also won the bid to host the 12th edition of the PAUDC in 2019.
