Sunyani Oct. 7, GNA - Mr Sadick Boateng, 42, of T.I. Ahmadiya Senior Secondary School in Kumasi is 2008 Best Teacher. He received a cheque for GH¢ 60,000 to put up his own house and a computer with accessories.

President John Agyekum Kufuor presented the prize to him at the 14th National Best Teacher Award/World Teachers' Day ceremony held at the Jubilee Park at Sunyani on Tuesday.

Ms Magdalene Mensah, 48, of Opoku Ware Senior Secondary School in Kumasi, was the first runner up and took home a Toyota pickup vehicle and a computer with accessories. Ms Alice Gyifa Gligu Denueme, 45 of Awudome Senior High School at Tsito in the Volta Region, was the second runner up and had a saloon car and a computer with accessories. Awardees, who took the first positions in the various categories, took home a computer with accessories and a four-burner gas cooker each, while those who placed second in all the categories took home a double-door fridge and a television set each.

The third position award winners in all the categories had a gas cooker and a single door fridge each, while some foreign volunteers received awards of native carving, artefacts, certificates, citations and would enjoy a weekend tour of a tourist centre. Forty retired teachers selected from all the districts in the Brong Ahafo Region took home GHC 100 and a ghetto blaster each while some National Service Personnel received GH¢ 50 and a ghetto blaster each. In an acceptance speech, Mr Boateng pledged to live up to expectation and urged his colleagues to work hard to help to achieve the objectives of the Education Reforms.

He expressed the hope that the efforts of teachers would continue to be recognized so that they would also continue to give of their best. At the ceremony, presided by Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom 1V, Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area and President of Brong Ahafo Regional House of chiefs, some needy pupils were presented with school materials. Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, launched the best teacher handbook, whose production was sponsored by the UNICEF, which was aimed at guiding teachers to manage the classroom well and to serve as good role models in their communities.