11-Year-Old Ghana Spelling Champ Heads to US Competition

An 11-year-old boy from Kumasi just proved that hard work and precision can take you across the ocean.

Eugene Osei Mensah of Peniel Academy stood calm under pressure as he correctly spelled "breviloquent" in the 11th round of Ghana's 19th National Spelling Bee. The championship word earned him more than a trophy. It secured his spot representing Ghana at the 101st Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States this May.

Ghana is one of only two African countries competing institutionally at Scripps, alongside Nigeria. Eugene's victory carries the hopes of a nation that has spent nearly two decades building a pathway for young spellers to reach the global stage.

This year's competition made history in an unexpected way. Four finalists tied as first runners-up after exiting at the same level during the championship rounds. The rare outcome highlighted just how fierce the competition has become, with 170 of Ghana's brightest young minds battling word by word.

The Ripple Effect

The National Spelling Bee has become more than a contest. It's Ghana's proving ground for literacy excellence, teaching discipline and confidence to thousands of students across the country every year.

Schools are taking notice too. The Darko-Asare Grit and Grace Award presented GHC 3,000 to Eugene's winning school and coach, recognizing the teamwork behind his success. The Bee Keeper Award celebrated the school that brought the most finalists, while the Honey Bee Award honored the competition's youngest spellers.

Leaders from Ghana's education sector and the US Embassy in Accra attended the finale, reinforcing their commitment to nurturing the next generation of thinkers. Major sponsors including Indomie, DStv, and Joy FM backed the event, showing how private and public sectors can unite behind youth development.

Eugene now joins a small but growing community of African students competing on the world's biggest spelling stage. His journey from a classroom in Kumasi to the Scripps National Bee shows what's possible when communities invest in their children's potential.

One word at a time, Ghana's young spellers are rewriting what the world expects from African education.