The first day of the 2026 Literacy Challenge has delivered a mix of triumph, heartbreak and fiercely contested battles, with five regional teams booking their places in the next stage and five others seeing their campaigns come to an end.
The opening day brought together the top 10 regional teams, who went head-to-head across a series of challenging heats, with every point proving crucial in the race for qualification.
When the dust settled, Volta, Greater Accra, Eastern, Northern and Bono emerged as the day’s successful teams, securing their places in the next stage.
For Upper West, Upper East, Central, Ashanti and Western, however, the competition ended on Day One after they failed to secure qualification from their respective heats.
The day produced several thrilling encounters, including a closely fought contest between Northern and Ashanti, with Northern Region narrowly prevailing 62-58.
Eastern Region also produced a convincing performance, defeating Central Region 54-36, while Greater Accra secured progression with a 58-45 victory over Upper East.
Volta Region completed the list of qualifiers after overcoming Upper West in their contest.
With five regions still in contention, the stakes will rise on Day Two, when the surviving teams face a Mega Challenge to determine the final four.
The four teams that emerge from the Mega Challenge will then battle for the ultimate prize and the top three positions in the 2026 Literacy Challenge.
Away from the intense competition, the participating students were also recognised for their efforts. Contestants received certificates of participation, medals, gifts and souvenirs from the sponsors in appreciation of their commitment to the competition.
The 2026 Literacy Challenge is organised by Channel One TV in partnership with Citi FM, with sponsorship support from Deli, Tema Oil Refinery, SIC Insurance, Prospectus Ghana and Advocate Publishing. Citi
