Terkpetey Michael, a dedicated tutor at Abuakwa State College, has been named the overall best teacher at the Ghana Education Service (GES) Outstanding Achievement Awards held in Koforidua.

The 40-year-old Economics teacher, who has devoted 15 years to education, was celebrated for his hard work and creativity.

Michael received a brand-new saloon car, generously donated by Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Abuakwa North Constituency.

The event, themed ‘Inspiring Change: Recovery Begins with Teachers,’ organized by the Eastern Regional Education Directorate aims to recognize and celebrate the exceptional efforts of educators in the Region.

The ceremony saw 66 educators and non-teaching staff honoured from a pool of 405 entries.

Awards ranged from citations and plaques to appliances such as refrigerators TVs, and Gas cookers with the ultimate winner taking home a brand-new car.

Categories included achievements across all educational levels and various administrative roles. Performing schools in hard-to-reach communities were also recognized.

Ivy Asantewa Owusu, PhD, Eastern Regional Director of Education said amidst an unpredictable working environment, teachers need to be adaptable, creative, and resilient.

“In the delivery of quality education, one could sometimes, find actions done in the spur of the moment due to unpredictable situations, and this calls for professionalism, adaptive skills, creative thinking, resilience, and innovative prowess of the outstanding teacher. That is the spirit of inspiring change for recovery, without throwing one’s hands in despair”.

She said the award is to “unearth, exhibit, and honour our great heroes. It also serves as a road map to imbibe and ignite in the staff members the right attitude, a quest for excellence, passion, commitment to duty, and value for work, leading to total recovery, through quality education delivery”.

Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour, praised Ghanaian teachers, and their crucial role in improving education outcomes and WASSCE results.

He said Ghanaian teachers are ranked among the best in the world.

He pledged government continuous support to improve the working environment and conditions of teachers.

Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, chairman of the event stated that empowering teachers is fundamentally about empowering the country, therefore teachers must be motivated to give their best to have a positive impact on human capital development.

The overall best Teacher, Terkpetey Michael told the media, “I am grateful to God Almighty for giving me this honour. I have done a lot in my area of teaching and even out of class. My participation in even reforming the electoral system in my school which is my former school and current secondary school that is Abuakwa State College I am very particular about my student’s development and so that has earned me this prestigious award.

He advised, “colleagues to be more dedicated to the service because I think the teaching service is more of a calling than just a profession and so they must do their best, they may put all they have in the job.”