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A 47-year-old Kindergarten (KG) teacher at the Madina SDA Basic School in the Greater Accra Region has been adjudged the Overall Best Teacher at the 2024 Ghana Teacher Prize.
Fuseina Fuseini was recognised at a forum at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. last Saturday, for her consistency, dedication, hard work and innovation in teaching and learning.
For her prize, she will receive a three-bedroom house and a scholarship to study abroad if she so desires, with funding from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Ms Fuseini becomes the third female teacher to win the highest national honours for teachers in a row.
Richmond Kojo Adomako of the Uaddara Basic School in Kumasi was the first runner-up, with Diana-Rose Elorm Adonu of Aburi Girl’s Senior High School taking the second runner-up position.
While Mr Adomako took home a pick-up truck and a scholarship to study in any university in the country, Ms Adonu drove home a saloon car and was awarded a scholarship to study at any university in the country.
The Best Non-Teaching Staff prize was won by Wisdom Yaw Opoku, a Deputy Chief Accountant at Nsawkaw State SHS in the Tain District; the Best Teacher in Leadership and Administration award was picked up by Rev. Sister Victoria Jessy, who is the Headteacher of Akwatia St. Dominic Basic School in the Eastern Region, with the Most Outstanding College of Education Tutor going to Dr William Kwabena Nantwi of the Offinso College of Education.
Other award winners are Faustina Asaabo of the Menhean Community Primary in Tema who was adjudged the Best Differentiated Learning Practice Teacher; Annette Asieduwaa Owusu of the Kpone Presby Basic ‘B’ School was the Best KG Teacher, while Antoinette Kumi of the Tanoso M/A Primary in Sefwi-Wiawso was adjudged the Best Primary School Teacher.
The rest are George Ebanyenle Ackah of the Enchico Demonstration JHS in the Aowin District, Best Junior High School Teacher; with Perpetual Bosomprah of the Tarkwa SHST in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem District adjudged the Best SHS Teacher.
The other award winners were presented with cash prizes which ranged from GH¢10,000 to GH¢100,000, and motorbikes.
In an address read on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the President reiterated his commitment to the transformation of the nation through education.
He explained that the huge budget support for education was because the sector served as the source of manpower for the transformation of the nation.
President Akufo-Addo praised all teachers for their dedication towards the training of the nation’s human resources which were very critical for the development of the nation.
He also eulogised all stakeholders in the nation’s educational space and urged them to continue working hard towards the sustenance of the gains made in the sector.
For his part, Dr Adutwum assured teachers of prudent policies that would create the enabling environment for effective teaching and learning.
“We mean business when it comes to education development in the country because we believe education holds the key to economic transformation and poverty reduction,” he said.
Dr Adutwum, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, stated that all the policies being rolled out by the Education Ministry were geared towards the attainment of 21st century education for Ghanaian students.
He explained that the introduction of the double-track system was to help increase enrolment, adding that by the next academic year, 70 per cent of SHSs would end the double-track system due to the strategic building of school infrastructure across the country.
The Registrar of the National Teaching Council, Dr Christian Addai-Poku, in his welcome address, stated that the policies and practices the council had put in place were helping to advance the teaching profession in the country.
“Let no one whittle down the standards and permit cheap entry requirements into the profession. Our requirements should remain as rigorous as those of doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, engineers and others,” he said.
“The Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination remains one of the best quality assurance measures to ensure that only those fit for purpose get engaged in our schools,” Dr Addai-Poku stated.
In a short remark, Ms Fuseini lauded the initiative to reward dedicated teachers, saying the recognition was key to bringing out the best in every teacher.
On behalf of the award winners, the overall best teacher described the award as a great motivation to her and appealed to all teachers to show dedication to the profession.
