After years of largely unheralded service in crowded classrooms and long hours of marking beyond the school day, teachers in the Abuakwa South Municipality were brought into the spotlight on Saturday in a rare moment of public appreciation.

The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Auditorium at the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education came alive as nearly 30 educators were honoured at the maiden Akosua Agyeiwaa Memorial Municipal Teachers’ Awards 2025.

The ceremony recognised the commitment and quiet influence of teachers whose work continues to shape the municipality’s future, one pupil at a time.

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

For Prince Kojo Frimpong, 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 JoyNews. “Being recognised as the most outstanding teacher in the municipality reassures me that the sacrifices have been worthwhile.”

The event was spearheaded by the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, who described the ceremony as both a celebration and a moment for deeper reflection on the role of teachers in national development.

In his keynote address, Dr Agyemang highlighted the complex demands of the profession, noting that teachers are required to manage diverse learning needs under often 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 educators as the foundation upon which all other professions are built, stressing that no society can advance beyond the quality of its teachers.

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

Dr Agyemang said the awards form part of a broader education-focused agenda in the constituency. 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,” he said. “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 honour of his late mother, Madam Akosua Agyeiwaa, whom he described as a devoted teacher and firm believer in the transformative power of education.

According to Dr Agyemang, the scheme celebrates her legacy while honouring 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, Mrs Comfort Ofori-Appiah, welcomed the initiative but also drew attention to pressing challenges within the municipality. She disclosed that Abuakwa South faces a shortfall of more than 200 teachers, resulting in some educators managing multiple classes.

She also pointed to difficulties in posting teachers to deprived areas, calling for the construction of staff bungalows to improve retention and performance.

Despite these constraints, Mrs Ofori-Appiah expressed confidence that the awards would serve as a morale booster and encourage improved teaching and learning outcomes.

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

“When a society honours 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.