It’s the 15th anniversary of Ghana’s participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and for the first time, three spellers from the country will take the stage.
Salome Dzakpasu, the program coordinator, said she’s thrilled to have more spellers this year. The three girls have trained together and will represent the country and all of Africa, she said.
“It’s great. It’s more work, but it’s more chances for us,” she said. “It’s a big honor for us and the continent as well.”
Petra Sarpong, speller 16, said she feels a lot of pressure – but she’s also enjoyed bonding with the other spellers from her country. They’ve practiced together every weekend and spent 10 hours together on the plane, watching movies and talking. She’s excited to exchange autographs, she said, and meet the other spellers. Petra is through to the Quarterfinals on Wednesday.
“Everything’s actually exciting,” she said.
The experience has been “kind of surreal” for Annie-Lois Acheampong, speller 56. She said she went into Ghana’s national competition with no expectations, so was thrilled to find herself here.
“It didn’t really sink in until I got to the Hall of Champions,” she said. “I hope it’s fun. I think it will be.”
Annie-Lois said she also grew closer to her fellow Ghana spellers by spending so much time studying together. She said she’s putting her best foot forward, and though she feels the pressure, she’s happy with whatever she does.
“We achieved a lot even by being here,” she said.
Speller 42, N’Adom Darko-Asare, said she’s nervous about getting her words correct. But the experience so far has been “really good,” she said.
“The stage, it is something else,” she said. “Up on stage, I felt like a champion.”