It was a clean sweep for Ghana’s female teachers this year as three of them swept all the major awards on offer at the 2019 edition of the Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, on Saturday, 5 October 2019.

Sabina Dosu of St Dominic’s R/C JHS, Akwatia in the Denkyembuor District of the Eastern Region, won the ultimate prize as the Most Outstanding Teacher, and for her meritorious services to the nation, she received a cheque for GHS180,000 for the construction of a 3-bedroom house. She also received other assorted items as part of the package.

Philippa Darko of State Experimental School, Kumasi, was adjudged the 1st Runner-up and drove away a brand new 4x4 Pickup.

The third-place winner, Christiana Koperebarah Yeyeh of the Yumba Special School for the Intellectually-Disabled, Tamale, drove away a brand new saloon car as the 2nd Runner-up.

Ghana’s Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was Guest of Honour at the event reiterated the government’s desire to resource and improve the living conditions of the teacher, especially in the light of Ghana’s growing population and the increasing number of people seeking literacy. 

“The reintroduction of the teacher trainee allowance, as a form of motivation in building this noble profession, and the introduction of the teacher professionalism process, which will give our teachers the global recognition they deserve, are all strategic efforts made by the NPP government to elevate the status quo of the Ghanaian teacher,” he stated.

Dr Bawumia lauded the nation-building contribution of teachers, noting: “It is often said that: ‘If you can read, thank a teacher.’ That is, indeed, true. But let me add this: ‘If you can think, thank a teacher’. I say this because our teachers do not just teach us to read and to do multiplication tables. They challenge and inspire us, help us to explore and maximise our abilities and talents, and bring out the potential in us.

“Indeed, beyond the classroom, teachers are the pillar of many of our communities, doubling, in times past, as the chief letter writer, the letter reader, the interpreter, the catechist and the counsellor whose words carry their weight in gold.

“I salute our gallant teachers, who in many instances, work under challenging conditions. This nation is grateful, and we will not forget you. We must, and will, continue to strive to make your lives better and more dignified.”

Dr Bawumia challenged teachers to work harder and compete on a global scale, recalling that for the first time, Ghana had a representative as part of the top fifty finalists of the Global Teacher Prize coming from the basic school in the person of Mr Robert Gariba.  

“This is a clear demonstration of the fact that our decision to realign the Best Teacher Awards with the Global Teacher Prize has borne ample fruit, and I look forward, not only to Ghana making an appearance at future global shortlists of the prize, but clinching the ultimate prize.”

The 2019 Ghana Teacher Prize was under the theme: “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession”.