This initiative aims to encourage teachers posted to the area to remain and help mitigate the rural-urban drift in the teaching profession.

Mr. Kuah-Dickson made this announcement during a Teachers' Awards ceremony held in Axim, located in the Western Region. A total of 25 dedicated teachers were recognized for their exceptional contributions to promoting quality education in the area.

The awards included four motorbikes, deep freezers, flat-screen television sets, and cash prizes.

The overall best teacher, Mr. Stephen Mensah from Kwame Nkrumah Senior High School, received a cash prize of GH?10,000, a motorbike, and a plaque for his outstanding performance in the teaching and learning process.

Looking ahead, Mr. Kuah-Dickson stated that next year's awards would focus on addressing accommodation issues for teachers, which he identified as a significant challenge for professionals in the area.

He assured the teachers that the Assembly would collaborate with the office of the Member of Parliament (MP) to address their needs, emphasizing that teachers are the foundation of national development.

Mr. Kofi Arko-Nokoe, the MP for Evalue Adjomoro-Gwira, noted that this was the first time the MP’s office and the Municipal Assembly had organized such a significant awards ceremony to honor teachers for their meritorious service in delivering quality education.

Having been a teacher himself before entering Parliament, he expressed his understanding of their challenges and the importance of motivating them.

He highlighted that teachers play a crucial role in developing the human resource base across various sectors of the economy and deserve recognition to boost their morale. The awards are part of broader efforts to address the rural-urban drift of staff within the Ghana Education Service.

Mr. Arko-Nokoe also mentioned plans to collaborate with the Assembly to support student teachers in training colleges by covering a portion of their fees, encouraging them to return and teach in the municipality. He promised to extend similar awards to other categories of workers, including nurses, security personnel, and traditional leaders.

Mr. Nathaniel Kofi Affum, the Municipal Director of Education, pointed out that the municipality faces a significant teacher deficit, particularly in rural communities. Some basic schools, which should have at least 15 teachers, are struggling with fewer than four, and in some cases, the kindergarten departments have only one trained teacher. Despite these challenges, many teachers have given their best and deserve recognition.

Mr. Mensah, the overall best teacher, reminded his colleagues that delivering quality education in the 21st century relies on critical thinking, digital literacy, communication, and problem-solving skills. He echoed Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's vision of advancing the nation through investments in education.

He also identified several challenges facing the Kwame Nkrumah Senior High School, including poor road access to the headmaster's bungalow and the use of the Legion block as a classroom to avoid a double-track system.

Other issues included a shortage of teachers, particularly in Science and Visual Arts, the need for equipping the ICT laboratory, scholarship opportunities for teachers pursuing higher degrees, and the establishment of tertiary institutions in the municipality.

Awulae Attibrukusu III, the Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, who chaired the event, praised the MP and MCE for this initiative, noting that it was unprecedented in the municipality.

He thanked the awardees for their exemplary performance and encouraged them to translate their achievements into improved student outcomes.

Awulae Attibrukusu also remarked on the poor educational records in the municipality and expressed hope that the awards would motivate teachers to strive for excellence.