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Season2 Pre-selection kickstarts with mixed reactions
Sun, Mar 1st 2009
Source :
A contestant taking his aptitude test
Still in the pensive mood trying to relive the whole event, she relates, “I came out of the test knowing I had done my best, I attempted all the questions but was not so hopeful because there were other questions I had to guess without really calculating because I was time-pressed. I know this is where the challenge really begins, I am going to prepare myself psychologically for the second stage of the audition in order to appear before the judges, and I know I am going to go through.”
After the 20-minute computer based aptitude test, the over 160 applicants, who wrote the test in batches, had to linger at the British Council premises to determine their fate.
Gripped with mixed feelings, some participants refused to talk, while others decided to engage in conversations to ease off the mounting tension. Those who could no more endure the fatigue that weighed on them because of the long journey they had embarked on, just to make it early in Accra, bowed most politely to nature as their eyelids clasped.
Dorinda Quarshie, a graduate from the University of Ghana, could not hide her true feelings as she told this reporter that she was praying for many people to fail so that she could get a chance to be among those chosen by the faculty members.
A few daring ones like Osei Akoto, a graduate from the KNUST, were optimistic they would make it through the various stages of the audition. He describes the reality show this way: “The idea of gathering graduates who are level headed under one umbrella so that they pitch ideas against each other, wits against wits, and at the end of the day, crowning the best is fantastic, and I am happy I am part of this.”
When asked why he decided to join the Challenge reality show, this is what Solomon Kwesi Appiah, a participant from the KNUST had to say “The price package is very alluring, again the challenge will give me the platform to learn some things that I did not have the opportunity to learn when I was in school.”
Catherine Attoh, from the University of Ghana, who read biochemistry, has a different opinion, “I joined the reality show to showcase my intelligence and to build on it.”
The tension reached a crescendo when the host of the reality show, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, gathered participants to announce those who had passed the aptitude test.
Some 80 participants who made it through exploded into an uncontrollable cheers and jubilation as they hugged each other.
Daniel Mensah, who graduated from the University of Ghana, last year, is one of those who made it through. “I am happy I have made it to the next stage,” he says, adding “the test however was very keen, you need not waste time on one question, I told the Lord who had started with me to end with me.”
He made this humble acknowledgement though, “well, I believe facing the panel of judges is not going to be easy but with the Lord on my side, I know I will give my best shot.”
One after the other, the selected participants met the panel of judges for the second lap of the audition process.
Francisca Anyimiah, from the UCC, who sailed through smoothly expressed her feelings this way, “I feel good, I just cannot believe it, the whole thing just happened in a flash.”
Idi Mohamed, from KNUST, was hopeful he would win the ultimate prize. He shares his dream with us, “I will come back after my second degree and establish a business enterprise and employ more Ghanaians in order to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.”
Participants would be further screened to pick 25 contestants who will have to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership competencies and creativity. They will undergo a series of interviews by a panel which includes representatives of the three sponsor universities, who will shortlist the candidates to 12 finalists to participate in the Reality TV Show.
This year’s TV reality show promises to be exciting and tasking.
A member of the faculty, Dr. Kwesi Appiah says that the panel will be looking out for participants who think creatively and are highly imaginative.
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