Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has honored 52 outstanding Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)

awardees at the 69th Presidential Awards Ceremony, using the occasion not only to celebrate academic excellence but also to call for discipline, integrity and responsible conduct among Ghana’s youth.
Speaking at the prestigious President’s Independence Day Awards ceremony, the Vice President described the award scheme as a powerful reflection of Ghana’s enduring commitment to dedication, discipline and faith in the potential of its children.
“This award scheme demonstrates what we, as Ghanaians, value in our education — dedication to learning, respect for excellence, and faith in our children's potential,” she stated.
This year’s ceremony recognized 52 exceptional students drawn from public and private schools across all 16 regions of Ghana. The awardees included visually impaired and hearing-impaired students, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on inclusive education.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang gave special recognition to students with disabilities, stressing that national development must leave no child behind.
“As a nation, our duty is to ensure that every child, no matter their ability or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed,” she emphasized.
While celebrating academic distinction, the Vice President addressed growing concerns about indiscipline in some schools, including vandalism and acts of disrespect toward authorities. She noted that although such incidents involve only a minority of students, their actions risk undermining national progress and damaging Ghana’s reputation.
In response, she announced that the Ministry of Education, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), is strengthening discipline frameworks, reinforcing guidance and counseling systems, and reviewing school disciplinary measures where necessary.
“The goal is not punishment for its own sake, but to develop citizens who understand both their freedoms and responsibilities,” she explained.
She urged the awardees to remain focused as they transition to senior high school, cautioning them to choose friends wisely, respect authority and uphold moral values.
“Excellence is not only about academic performance. It is also about how you behave when nobody is watching,” she said.
Referencing this year’s Independence Day theme, “Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope,” the Vice President stressed that national transformation depends not only on infrastructure and policy reforms but also on disciplined, law-abiding citizens.
“Prosperity is built by citizens who understand that personal conduct has national repercussions,” she noted, encouraging the awardees to become role models in their schools, communities and future workplaces.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister for Education Hon. Clement Abas Apaak described the ceremony as a proud milestone for Ghana’s education sector and a testament to structured systems and deliberate policy implementation.
He explained that the 52 awardees were selected through an inclusive and rigorous process coordinated by the Ghana Education Service. The recipients comprised 32 students from public schools (one male and one female from each region), 16 from private schools, two visually impaired students and two hearing-impaired students.
“This regional and inclusive structure reflects a deliberate national commitment. Excellence must be identified everywhere, and opportunity must reach everyone,” he said.
The Deputy Minister noted that the credibility of the President’s Independence Day Awards, established in 1993, has been sustained through fairness and transparency.
Both the Vice President and the Deputy Minister commended Nestlé Ghana Limited for serving as lead sponsor of the awards for over three decades, describing the partnership as a strong demonstration of corporate belief in Ghanaian children.
They also acknowledged the dedication of teachers, parents, headteachers, and regional and district education directors whose collective efforts continue to shape academic excellence nationwide.
“Nation-building is a shared responsibility,” the Vice President said. “Your contributions are helping shape the next generation of Ghana’s leaders.”
Reaffirming government’s commitment to improving policies, expanding access and raising the quality of education, Professor Opoku-Agyemang concluded with a powerful reminder:
“The Ghana we want will not emerge by chance. It will be shaped deliberately by citizens who combine brilliance with morals, confidence with humility, and success with a genuine spirit of service.”
With the recognition of 52 exceptional BECE awardees and renewed calls for discipline and values-based education, the 69th Presidential Awards Ceremony stood not only as a celebration of excellence but also as a national call to action.