By Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA
Ho, Oct. 4, GNA – Professor Eric Anane, Director, Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast has called for the elevation of the status of teachers in Ghana to secure the country’s future.
He said this would mean valuing teachers, who played a crucial role in shaping the minds of future generations just as the other professionals who benefited from their training are valued.
Prof Anane who gave the keynote address at a Ghana Teacher Prize 2025 Symposium and Exhibition in Ho said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Elevating the Status of Teachers for Quality Education”, was timely as it spoke to the urgent need to honour teachers, empower them, equip them, and to inspire them.
“If Ghana is to rise, if Africa is to lead, it will be on the shoulders of teachers whose dignity, competence, and motivation have been uplifted. To elevate the teacher is to elevate the child, and to elevate the child is to secure the future.”
“Do we value our teachers as much as we value the professionals who benefit from their training? Do we give them the conditions of service that reflect their indispensable role? Do we protect their integrity, amplify their voices, and provide opportunities for their growth?”
He said that the teacher was not just a transmitter of knowledge, but a “nation-builder, a destiny-shaper, and a silent architect of development.
“There should be a collective resolve to uplift the teaching profession until every teacher in Ghana feels valued, respected, and motivated to give their very best.
“To elevate the status of teachers is not a ceremonial gesture; it is a national duty. It means creating an environment where teaching is not a fallback option but a first choice—a career of prestige, innovation, and purpose.”
To the teachers, Prof Anane encouraged, “You may not wear the robes of parliamentarians, or the uniforms of soldiers, or the titles of executives. But you wear something far more powerful—the trust of a child and the hope of a nation.”
Dr Christian Addai-Poku, Registrar, National Teaching Council (NTC) said the 2025 theme aligned with the International Labour Organisation’s principles on decent work, professional recognition, and social dialogue, stressing that to achieve quality education, there was the need for teachers to feel empowered, motivated, and respected.
Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister who was the Guest of Honour, welcomed the choice of the region for this year’s celebration and appealed to the NTC to consider opening an office in Volta, a region which has eight colleges of education.
He celebrated the tireless efforts of teachers and assured of the Regional Coordinating Council’s readiness to support teachers.
The symposium chaired by Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, President of Volta Regional House of Chiefs saw fraternal messages from UNESCO and a not-for-profit organisation, T.TEL calling for the elevation of the status of teachers saying, doing so would be laying a solid foundation for learners to thrive.
The Ghana Teacher Prize, an annual national award to recognise outstanding and impactful teachers in the pre-tertiary and college of education sectors, being organised by the Ministry of Education through the NTC will be climaxed with a durbar Sunday, October 5 in Ho.
GNA
Edited by Maxwel Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei