Abuakwa South MP recognises teachers' dedication with first-ever awards ceremony

The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has led a landmark initiative to celebrate teachers in the constituency, bringing long overdue public recognition to educators whose dedication often goes unnoticed.

After years of service in overcrowded classrooms and countless hours spent marking beyond the school day, teachers in Abuakwa South were placed firmly in the spotlight on Saturday 20th December, 2025 during a rare moment of appreciation.

The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Auditorium at the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education came alive as nearly 30 teachers were honored at the maiden Akosua Agyeiwaa Memorial Municipal Teachers’ Awards 2025. The ceremony acknowledged the commitment and quiet influence of educators whose work continues to shape the future of the municipality, one learner at a time.

Award recipients received certificates and plaques, along with practical items such as laptops, televisions, microwaves, double-door refrigerators and weekend hotel packages. Beyond their material value, the prizes symbolised gratitude for years of perseverance, resilience and selfless service.

For Prince Kojo Frimpong, who was crowned Overall Best Teacher for 2025, the recognition marked a defining moment in a teaching career spanning more than two decades.

“This is the first time my work has been formally acknowledged,” he told the media. “Being recognized as the most outstanding teacher in the municipality reassures me that the sacrifices have been worthwhile.”

The event, spearheaded by Dr Agyemang, was described by the MP as both a celebration and an opportunity for deeper reflection on the critical role teacher’s play in national development.

In his keynote address, Dr Agyemang highlighted the complex demands of the teaching profession, noting that educators are expected to manage diverse learning needs under challenging conditions while still delivering excellence.

“This is more than an awards night,” he said. “It is a statement of appreciation and a renewed commitment to the noble calling of teaching.”

He described teachers as the foundation upon which all other professions are built, stressing that no society can rise beyond the quality of its educators.

“Within your classrooms, destinies are shaped,” he noted. “You instill not only knowledge, but confidence, discipline, empathy and purpose.”

Dr Agyemang explained that the awards form part of a broader education-focused agenda in Abuakwa South. He cited initiatives such as the Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz, spelling and reading competitions, inter-school debates, BECE support programmes, sports competitions and teacher capacity-building interventions.

“These initiatives are not one-off activities, they are strategic investments in our children and in the long-term development of Abuakwa South.”

He pledged to deepen and expand these programmes, reaffirming education as a central pillar of his development vision for the constituency.

The awards scheme is named in honor of his late mother, Madam Akosua Agyeiwaa, whom he described as a devoted teacher and a firm believer in the transformative power of education. According to Dr Agyemang, the initiative celebrates her legacy while honoring teachers who continue to nurture young minds despite limited resources and increasing demands.

“This is a celebration of the teaching profession ,its sacrifice, its dignity and its enduring impact,” he said.

The Kibi Municipal Director of Education, Comfort Ofori-Appiah, welcomed the initiative but also highlighted pressing challenges facing the municipality. She revealed that Abuakwa South currently faces a shortfall of more than 200 teachers, forcing some educators to manage multiple classes.

She also pointed to difficulties in posting teachers to deprived areas, calling for the construction of staff bungalows to improve teacher retention and performance. Despite these challenges, Ofori-Appiah expressed confidence that the awards would boost morale and contribute to improved teaching and learning outcomes.

As the ceremony drew to a close amid sustained applause, Dr Agyemang urged award recipients to see the honor as a call to even greater service.

“When a society honors its teachers, it strengthens its future,” he said.

For the educators of Abuakwa South, the evening offered something long overdue clear public affirmation that their work is valued, essential, and central to community and national development.