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The President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT),
Mrs. Philippa Larsen has expressed disappointment about President Akufo-Addo’s absence from this year’s Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony.
According to her, this is the fifth time the President has failed to honour their invitation to grace such occasion on a day dedicated worldwide to celebrate the impact of teachers.
Teachers, she said, were anticipating to see the president in their midst to boost their morale and acknowledge their hard work.
The teachers were further heartbroken when the Vice President, the Minister for Education as well as the Director of Education failed to turn up for the event – a situation she described as worrying.
Speaking to Angel TV’s Bono Regional correspondent, Reuben Akwasi Oliver, Mrs. Larsen, said that “teachers are not happy…Today October 5, worldwide, nothing should have gone on that would take our president away from us. We know that Ghana is celebrating us but without the president we can’t feel the celebration the way we should. This is the fifth time that he has been absent in our durbar to congratulate and appreciate us. Whatever has taken him away we pray that henceforth all programs should be abandoned on such a day”.
In all, the overall Best Teacher Award went Mr. Ebenezer Kojo Otoo of Winneba Senior High School in Efutu Municipal of the Central Region. He took home a 3-Bedroom miniature house worth Ghc250,000 which would be built for him at his preferred location.
The Second Best Prize went to Rev. Sister Jusinta Kwakyewaa Osei of St. Francis Senior High Technical School in the Birim Central of the Eastern Region. She took home a brand new VW 4×4 Pick-up while the third prize was given to Mr Nelson Saviour Kwashie of Awutu Swinton Senior High School in the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region respectively. He took home a brand new saloon car as his prize.
Speaking to the media after the event, Mr. Ebenezer Kojo Otoo was grateful to God and the organizers of the programme. He urged his colleague teachers to work hard in order to achieve their dreams.
“I don’t do anything to please anyone. I just do my best as a teacher and it has brought me this far”, he said.
He also called on authorities to pay attention to teachers and education sector saying ” as teachers we face lots of challenges both financially and in terms of working instruments. If we get support from government or philanthropists to support us especially our visual Arts education we can manufacture instead of importing from other countries”.
The Second Best Prize winner, Rev. Sister Jusinta Kwakyewaa Osei expressed her love for teaching and children.
“I am overjoyed. I’ve been teaching for a long time and I’m passionate about it and I urge all teachers to help nurture the children”, the Reverend said.
