Telecommunications giant Tigo has partnered the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation to reward deserving teachers at this year’s Otumfuo Teachers Awards. The awards scheme which is in its 3rd year, was instituted by the Otumfuo Charity Foundation to encourage and motivate hardworking teachers who have gone the extra mile to impart knowledge to students in deprived communities in Ghana. These teachers in these communities usually leave their comfort zones to serve in communities which lack potable drinking water, accessible roads, electricity and other basic social amenities. At this year’s awards, which came off at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Friday June 6, the Otumfuo Foundation awarded 100 deserving teachers from all ten regions of Ghana, ten awardees from each region. Awardees were drawn from communities such as Old Ashongman in the Ga East district, Fiankoma in the Jacobu, the capital of Amansie Central district in the Ashanti region, Akimbenase in the Akyemansa district of the Eastern region, through to Azua in the Nkwanta North district of the Volta region and Bungberi in the Wa West district in the Upper West region. Speaking at the event, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II lamented about the poor conditions of teachers who have accepted postings to the hinterlands and deprived areas of the country. In spite of their predicaments, the Asantehene reminded teachers of their responsibility to the nation and urged them not to give up, even though they are faced with such conditions. He urged corporate entities and individuals to emulate the example of Tigo by supporting education to ensure that government is not burdened with the responsibility of shouldering education alone in the country. According to the Brand Communications Manager of Tigo, Linda Narh, Tigo is proud to be associated with this awards scheme, especially since education plays a major role in national development. She stated that, “as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, we believe in giving back to society and enhancing communities in which we operate. We also believe that, this would go a long way in encouraging and inspiring other teachers in such communities to stay and help in imparting knowledge to our future leaders.” The awards scheme, apart from awarding teachers also supports brilliant but needy students in such deprived communities to give them a solid foundation in furthering their education.