Speech and hearing impaired lady, Genevieve Basigha who has established a special school at Obuasi to assist deaf and dumb children with education emerged winner of the third edition of the MTN Heroes of Change programme.

Overjoyed and full of tears, Genevive received a plague, a citation and a cheque for the GHC100, 000 -- the grand prize -- amidst pump and pageantry on Friday at the National Theatre in Accra.

There was a spontaneous standing ovation and wild jubilation among the audience when Genevieve Basigha’s name was announced as the winner of the ultimate prize.

MTN Heroes of Change is organised by the MTN Ghana Foundation to reward people making a positive impact on society through philanthropy, and to encourage them to do more for society.

The Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation, Cynthia Lumor, who announced the ultimate winner, lauded Genevive’s virtue and praised her determination to assist children whose plights are similar to hers to seek an education so they can be more useful to society while enjoying a fulfilled life.

A highly-elated Genevive, speaking through a translator, was full of praise to God for honouring her and her dedicated staff who continue to support her even under very uncomfortable conditions.

She competed against nine others who made it to the grand finale out of the over 1,700 entries that were received but shortlisted to 30 and then to the final 10.

The other finalists include Joseph Asakibeem, Dr Michael Adusei-Nsowah, Ibrahim Bafara Alhassan, John Amankrah-Essel, Joana Mansah Deegbe, Nana Prof. Osei Kofi Darkwa III, Rev Fr. Dr. Moses Asaa Awinongya, Rev Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson and James Jack Dawson.

Three other finalists won GHC30, 000 each in the various categories of the awards. They are Rev. Moses Asaah, Rev. Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson and Jack James Dawson who all came tops in the education, health, and economic empowerment categories respectively.

Each of the 10 finalists also took away GHC10, 000, a certificate of recognition and a plaque.

The MTN Heroes of Change programme is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the MTN Ghana Foundation, designed to tell the stories of Ghana’s humanitarian heroes and heroines and to celebrate them for giving back to their communities in extraordinary and impactful ways.

Beyond this, the MTN Ghana Foundation continues to invest millions of Ghana cedis every year in direct social interventions in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.