The Channel One TV and Citi FM Literacy Challenge is increasingly being framed around creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving, as education stakeholders link foundational learning skills to future workforce readiness in an economy being reshaped by artificial intelligence (AI).
Launched on July 2, 2026 in Accra, the 2026 edition of the annual competition requires participants aged 11 to 15 to write a minimum 600-word essay in the form of a letter to the Minister of Education, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of AI in education and proposing ways to integrate the technology into basic schools while addressing inequality in access between urban and underserved communities.
The competition has evolved from a traditional essay-based literacy initiative into a multi-stage national academic exercise. Entries will be screened to select 100 candidates for a written aptitude test in Accra, before being reduced to 48 finalists who will compete in a regional team-based quiz format.
Organisers say the structure is designed to move beyond memorisation and test reasoning, communication and applied knowledge under pressure. Participation has also been expanded to ensure representation from all 16 regions, broadening access beyond major urban centres.
While framed as a literacy competition, the programme is increasingly being interpreted within education circles as part of a wider effort to develop early-stage cognitive and problem-solving skills that are relevant to both governance and economic participation.
The growing influence of AI in education has sharpened the focus on how schools balance digital tools with the need to preserve independent thinking. Channel One TV General Manager Bernard Avle cautioned participants against relying on artificial intelligence in preparing their submissions, urging originality in their work.
“Don’t use AI to tell you how to use AI,” he said. He also stressed the broader purpose of the exercise, adding that exposure to such structured challenges expands what young people believe they can achieve. “When you allow young people to imagine themselves in roles like this, the boundaries of what they can become are broken,” he said.
The Literacy Challenge, which began in 2008 as the “Right to Work” essay competition, has gradually expanded to reflect broader definitions of literacy, including digital awareness, communication skills and analytical reasoning.
Prizes for the 2026 edition include cash awards, laptops, trophies and certificates. The top regional team will receive GHS 15,000, with individual members taking home GHS 5,000 each. An additional GHS 5,000 will be awarded to the overall all-round best student.
Education stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Library Authority, UNESCO Accra and the British Council, have endorsed the initiative, describing it as a platform that strengthens literacy outcomes and expands access to learning opportunities nationwide.
Against the backdrop of Ghana’s growing policy engagement with AI and digital transformation, the competition is increasingly being viewed as an early exposure platform for skills linked to innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity in a knowledge-driven economy.
While its immediate focus remains academic, its broader framing reflects a shift toward education models that prioritise creativity and problem-solving as core economic assets, particularly as businesses adapt to technology-led change.
Interested participants have until July 20, 2026, to submit their entries either by post to P.O. Box GP 14123, Accra Central, or in person at the Channel One TV premises in Tesano, Accra.
For further information, applicants may contact 0205 973 973.
