Sixty selected students from across the ten regions in the country have been awarded by the president for displaying academic excellence in the 2016 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The students who rose above their peers in their final basic education exam received the enviable accolades during the Ghana@60 Presidential Awards for Students ceremony that took place at the Banquet Hall, State House.

The colourful event which was on theme ‘mobilising for Ghana’s future’ happened in the presence of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the vice president Dr. Bawumia, the Chief Justice, Georgina Woode and some ministers. Some members of Parliament as well as other distinguished personalities were also present.

Delivering the introductory address, The Minister of Education, Honourable Matthew Opoku Prempeh congratulated the students for winning the Presidential Awards and also acknowledged the efforts of the teachers who nurtured the students.

The minister admonished the students not to relax on their laurels since it’s the first step in their quest to become 'responsible citizens'.

He advised them to eschew complacency and build on this achievement. He assured them of government’s unwavering support which has been demonstrated through the introduction of the ‘Free SHS’ programme.

"Firstly, I will thank the teachers who have made this possible through teaching and mentoring these young kids. You should serve as role models to your colleague teachers. To the awardees, you’ve done well and we are proud to be with you today and honour you for achievements worth emulating.

"This is just the first step in your life long ambitions to become responsible citizens. Excellence should be your watch word to aid you to your respective dreams so that Ghana will be proud of you. I assure you of government’s unwavering commitment and support to education as seen in the introduction of the ‘free SHS’ programme’’.

As prizes for their remarkable feats, the twenty overall best students received laptops, cash prizes, hampers from title sponsors- Nestle Ghana- and plaques, whiles the other forty who were selected based on their output in Mathematics, Integrated Science, English Language and Basic Design and Technology received the aforementioned items aside the laptops.

The Presidential Awards for Students which is a common feature of the Independence Day celebration was until 2001 awarded to ten students but was expanded to twenty students with two (male and female) from each region following a suggestion by the Ghana Education Service.

In line with the celebration of Ghana’s sixty years anniversary, sixty students from the nook and cranny of the country were awarded for their academic success.