An amount of 450 million cedis has been mobilised from contributors to the Ejisu-Juaben District Health Insurance Scheme since its inception in August.

The government provided 100 million cedis to support it while teachers in the area contributed 12.5 million cedis monthly, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Yaw Ahenkora Afrifa has said.

He was speaking at the 2001/2002 District Best Teacher Awards ceremony at Ejisu at which 18 teachers and a non-teaching member of staff of the Ghana Education Service were honoured.

They received prizes including 14-inch colour television sets, radio cassette recorders, gas cookers and cylinders and cooking utensils.

Mr. Afrifa described the record of the District’s Health Insurance scheme as “one of the best in the country” and said contributors would start benefiting as from January 2003.

The DCE said the Assembly would continue to commit resources for the provision of classroom blocks, teachers’ bungalows, school furniture and educational infrastructure.

Mr. Afrifa announced that 500 million cedis from the HIPC Fund and part of money from the Ghana Education Trust Fund would be used to construct a model basic school at Ejisu.

The district capital would also be given a face-lift under the Town Four Project, which would begin in February 2003, the DCE said.

He praised teachers for their services to society and urged them to be proud of their profession and to ensure discipline in schools.

The District Director of Education, Mr. Festus Baodi-Suadwa commended them for their hard work and dedication, which he said had contributed to the improvement of education in the area.

He expressed his appreciation to the District Assembly for supporting the awards scheme.