The Teachers and Education Workers' Union (TEWU) has honoured twenty-seven past national officers for their dedication and service to the cause of the Union.

The honours were conferred at an event held at the Union's hospitality facility at Lapaz in Accra.

At the ceremony, twelve females and fifteen males each received plaques with appreciative inscriptions, in addition to various cash amounts.

Speaking at the event, the General Secretary of TEWU, Mark Dankyira Korankye, said people who sacrifice their comfort for the good of the larger society deserve to be appreciated and honoured in their life time.

This, he said, will be a source of inspiration for the younger generation.

"We have had people sacrificing for the life of this Union. Some even to the extent of putting their jobs on the line, because always as union leaders you are being targeted, so some suffered denial of promotions, because they had to stand in as Union leaders.

So if people do all these sacrifices and they retire or they are out of office, we believe it is just right that we call them together and say 'thank you' for your services", he said.

Congratulating the recipients, he added that "Without your sacrifices which are invaluable and cannot be quantified, the union wouldn't have been where we are today".

Mr. Korankye also indicated that such appreciative events will serve as motivations to the younger generation.

"If you put your life on the line for the sake of the union, you will not go unrewarded", he admonished.

He however expressed concerns about how "the spirit of sacrifice is eluding us, and people are not willing to put their lives down for the sake of the vulnerable".

The current National Chairman of TEWU, Ambrose Yao Kwadwodza, also commended the past officers for serving the union selflessly.

He urged every young worker to be committed to the cause of the union, adding that "at any position that you are going to serve under a union, you make a pledge to the people who put you there, so it is our desire to get every young person to serve their unions with their hearts and not their personal interests, so that their members will be served well".

The past officers who were honoured included the immediate past National Chairman, Mr. Peter K. Lumor; the First National Vice Chairman, Mr. Bismark Bawah; the Second National Vice Chairperson, Madam Florence Agyei-Wiredu; the First National Trustee, Mr. William Adjei-Twumasi and the General Secretary, Mr. Augustine Saakuur-Karbo.

Others included the TEWU Women's Committee National President, Madam Johanna Hammond; the Women's Committee National Vice President, Madam Ethel Nyadroh; the Women's Committee National Secretary, Madam Gloria Aba Kinful; the Women's Committee Second National Trustee, Madam Janet Emefa Obro-Adibo; the Women's Committee Northern Regional President, Madam Okailey Randolf and the Women's Committee Northern Regional Secretary, Madam Diana Serwaa Ali.  

The rest of the recipients were members of the National Executive Council (NEC), the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees for the TEWU Fund.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, the immediate past National Chairman TEWU-TUC, Peter Lumor, encouraged up and coming union leaders to avail themselves for mentoring, and study under experienced people in order to succeed, "As we have also done and today, the current national officers deem it appropriate to celebrate and honour us".

Mr Lumor also thanked God for the lives of the awaredees and expressed gratitude for the recognition given to him and his colleagues.

The ceremony was witnessed by Joshua Ansah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress.