The U.S. Embassy in Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the ACE Consult and U.S. Embassy Spoken Word Competition after the successful launch of the programme in Accra.
Organised by ACE Consult in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, the competition aims to nurture critical thinking, creativity, public speaking, and communication skills among young people through spoken-word performances.
Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the finals of the inaugural Accra edition on Friday, June 5, 2026, the U.S. Embassy’s Press Attaché and Acting Public Affairs Officer, Matthew Asada, expressed enthusiasm about extending the initiative beyond Kumasi and ensuring its long-term growth.
“We’re really excited to be here for the finals of the inaugural Spoken Word Competition in Accra. We’ve been doing this for a couple of years in Kumasi, but this is the first year that we’re doing it in Accra,” he said.
Mr. Asada praised the partnership between the Embassy and ACE Consult, which manages the American Space in Kumasi and supports EducationUSA centres in both Accra and Kumasi. He indicated that the collaboration would continue to create opportunities for young people to develop valuable communication and leadership skills.
The 2026 edition of the competition was themed around sports, competition, and global unity, inspired by the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States in 2026.
“This year, what better year than 2026, when the United States is co-hosting the World Cup? The theme is all about sports and competition and what happens when the whistle blows, and borders fade,” Mr. Asada explained.
He commended the participants for their outstanding performances, noting that the competition had already revealed exceptional talent among students.
“We’re very excited, and I’ve seen some incredible performances from the students. I’m looking forward to the finals today,” he added.
Mr. Asada also highlighted the significance of the programme as Ghana and the United States mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.
“Ghana is celebrating 70 years of independence, and we are celebrating 70 years of relations between the United States and Ghana,” he noted.
The U.S. Embassy said it plans to deepen its collaboration with educational and youth development stakeholders to expand the competition in both Accra and Kumasi, while providing more platforms for young people to sharpen their communication, leadership, and critical-thinking abilities through spoken-word artistry.
Source: citinews
