By Iddi Yire
Accra, March 05, GNA – Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on Wednesday eulogized late former President Jerry John Rawlings for instituting the President’s Independence Day Awards.
The President’s Independence Day Awards, established in 1993, have recognized academic excellence.
The award is now a key part of Ghana’s Independence Day Celebration.
The Vice President gave the commendation in her address at this year’s President’s Independence Day Awards Ceremony in Accra, during which 52 best deserving students in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) were honoured.
The annual event, which is sponsored by Nestlé Ghana Limited, recognizes and rewards exceptional young students aged 14 to 19 from across the regions.
The 52 awardees for the 2024 BECE include 32 students from public schools, 16 from private schools, and four students with hearing and visual impairments.
As part of their award package, each student received a laptop, Nestlé souvenirs, and one year’s supply of Nestlé products, as well as a plaque and a signed certificate from the President of the Republic of Ghana.
The students also engaged in a series of exciting activities prior to the event, which included a tour of the Nestlé factory in Tema, visits to Jubilee House, the Ministry of Education and the University of Ghana.
Vice President Prof Opoku-Agyemang personally congratulated the Awardees for how far they had come.
“…Yes, you have come far, you have much further to go. This is a good step, keep it up, keep going. Keep realizing your dreams. Don’t stop yourself, and don’t allow others to stop you. But you know and I know that you didn’t get here today by yourselves,” the Vice President said.
She advised the students to be grateful to their parents for the good roles they had played in their upbringing and educational pursuit.
“Your parents, those who helped your parents to raise you, the drivers who took you to school, the teachers who taught you, your friends that you socialized with, they have all been part of this journey.
But because you were the ones who studied, you were the ones who wrote the exams, and you are the ones who are here today, I want you to first clap for yourselves,” she said.
Vice President Prof Opoku-Agyemang said the Government was there to play its roles, such as providing school buildings, learning materials, teachers and a good learning environment.
She also reiterated that those who helped the parents to raise the children, such as the drivers who drove them in cars to school, also made huge contributions.
The Vice President also lauded teachers for their contributions towards the educational success of the awardees and other students.
“And of course, they have been your teachers. We like to give them names and all of that. Don’t worry, you are not the only generation to do that. I’m sure many in this room have done similar. But we also remember them with fondness, with thankfulness for how far they have brought us. Clap for your teachers.”
She said in all of this, there was an invisible hand of God that guided the Awardees, that protected them, which had brought them this far.
“I want to use this medium to address all our school children. Those who didn’t make it today, you can make it tomorrow. So don’t give up. Keep learning. Aim for excellence. You will get there,” she said.
“And as I used to tell my students on campus, you shoot for the moon. And if you don’t get to the moon, make sure you land among the stars.”
She congratulated the Awardees and their parents and teachers; saying “Congratulations. Keep the fire burning.
Keep it burning all the time. Keep working. Keep excelling.”
Mr Georgios Badaro, the Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana Limited, emphasized the company’s commitment and unwavering dedication to fostering positive change and ensuring the prosperity of individuals and communities.
He said education was a crucial foundation for development, and Nestlé firmly believes in acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of students.
In attendance at the event was Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education.
GNA