Mrs. Faith Aku Dzakpasu, a teacher at the Greta ‘D’ Shepherd Basic School in Awoshie in the Greater Accra Region, was voted Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher at the 2023 Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony held in Takoradi.
She also received promotions, a study trip to Singapore, a scholarship for higher education, a three-bedroom home worth GHS450,000, and GHS1,000,000 in life insurance.
Initial Runner-Up Teacher Madam Isabella Wussah-Tetteh of Sege D/A Primary and Kindergarten (KG), Greater Accra Region, received a scholarship, a 4X4 pick-up truck, and an untimely promotion.
The runner-up place Mr. Fredous Iddi-Amin from the Greater Accra Region’s Ogbojo Presbyterian Basic School earned a saloon car, a scholarship, and a promotion.
Mr. Benjamin Semenyo Lifeson, a tutor at the Presbyterian College of Education in the Eastern Region, was chosen the Best College of Education Tutor and received a 4X4 pick-up vehicle as a prize.
Mr. Abraham Fletcher, Sefwi-Wiawso unicipal Director of Education in the Western North Region, earned a saloon car, life insurance, and a trip to Singapore as prizes for achieving the title of Best Teacher in Leadership and Administration.
Mr. Andrews Danso, the principal administrative officer of the Apersua Community Senior High School in the Eastern Region, received the best non-teaching staff award. He received a saloon car, life insurance, and a trip to Singapore as compensation.
The Best Teacher honoree was Madam Racheal Afriyie from Pabi M/A Primary School in the Eastern Region. She was among those who also got accolades. Madam Barikisu Suleiman, a KG teacher at Answaru-Deen Islamic Basic School in the Greater Accra Region, won both the KG and primary school teaching awards.
The top senior high and technical school (SHTS) teacher was Mr. Peter Adu Boahene from the Kumasi Technical Institute, while the best junior high school teacher was Mr. Jibiliru Amadu Nankpa from TUTCO Demonstration Basic School in the Upper West Region. Mr. Sayibu Yakubu, a teacher at Yendi Senior High School, received the Best SHS Teacher honor.
To motivate teachers to strive for improved performance and re-establish the profession’s prestige, The Ghana Teacher Prize replaced the Best Teacher Award, which was first introduced in 1995. It also attempts to improve the productivity and overall effectiveness of qualified teachers in the classroom.
This year’s World Teachers Day activities featured as its theme: “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage.” The ceremony was held as part of those events.
Mrs. Faith Aku Dzakpasu received the Most Outstanding Teacher award from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, and other GES representatives.
She expressed her happiness and thanks for the honor and recognition bestowed upon her and urged her co-workers to put in their best effort in order to receive similar honors in the future.
The award recipients were commended by Dr. Eric Nkansah, Director-General of GES, for their remarkable contributions to the improvement of high standards of education in the nation.
In addition, he said, “It is consistent with our vision of prioritising teacher welfare and professional development to consolidate the gains in the education sector.” The theme, he said, shed light on the crucial role teachers played in society.
The National Teaching Council’s (NTC) Registrar, Dr. Christian Adda Poku thanked President Akufo-Addo for attending the event and said his attendance confirmed the government’s commitment to its teach-first strategy.
Since 2018, the NTC and its collaborators have improved the aesthetics of the Chana Teacher Prize ceremonies, the caliber of the awards, and the breadth of the different categories.
He acknowledged his satisfaction with the program’s constancy, noting that it had never fallen behind.
