Some teachers in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region have called on the Mills government to fulfill its campaign promise of improving the lot of teachers in the country. They made the call in Ho as part of activities marking the 2009 edition of the National Best Teacher Award ceremony hosted by the Volta Region on Monday. Some of the teachers who spoke to Joy News said the current salary structure of teachers is not motivating enough and urged the Mills administration to take a critical look at the salary level. Meanwhile, Ms. Irene Essel, 35, a teacher at Abeka Motorway One Junior High School (JHS) in the Greater Accra Region, was adjudged the 2009 National Best Teacher award winner. She told Joy News’ Bernard Saibu her track record of churning out excellent results in the Basic Education Certificate Examination won her the award. She said she makes her lectures so lively, by motivating her students with gifts if they answer questions correctly. Essel believes the award is a personal challenge to her and will spur her on for more successes. She expressed her profound appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to her success. The catering teacher will receive a house, a scholarship package and a computer as her prize. Whilst congratulating the National Best Teacher for her enviable position, some of the teachers believe the award scheme benefits only a few and is not motivating enough. “It doesn’t benefit a lot of the teachers. It is only a few who benefit. So for some of us we know whatever the contributions are, we will not be recognized, so we don’t aspire to win the award,” a teacher in Accra told Joy News. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana