By: Rachel Quartey
Fifty-two outstanding Junior High School students, have been honored with the prestigious President’s Independence Day Award in Accra. The Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, congratulated the awardees, encouraged them to remain committed to their dreams and strive for excellence. The 2025 edition, themed “Reflect, Review, and Reset,” aimed to inspire students to pursue excellence.
The annual President’s Independence Day Award ceremony, sponsored by Nestlé Ghana Limited, honours outstanding young scholars aged 14 to 19 from across Ghana. Thirty-two pupils from public schools, 16 from private schools, and four with hearing and visual impairments, were recognized this year. These students were selected based on their remarkable performance in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
At the 32nd edition on March 5, the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, paid tribute to the late former President, J.J. Rawlings, for initiating the President’s Independence Day Awards. She commended the awardees and stressed the importance of a collective effort to transform the country’s educational system.
“Let me congratulate you on how far you have come. Yes, you have come far, but you have much further to go. This is a good step, keep going, realize your potential, and pursue your dreams. Do not stop yourself, and do not allow others to stop you,” she said
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, also encouraged students who did not receive awards to keep striving for excellence.
“Those who didn’t make it today, you can make it tomorrow, so don’t give up, keep learning, aim for excellence, you’ll get there. 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,” the Vice President stated.
The Minister for Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, highlighted the importance of celebrating student achievements, noting their role in fostering growth, integrity, and shaping the nation’s future.
The Managing Director of Nestlé Ghana, Georgios Badaro, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to enhancing sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are working closely with our suppliers to improve the value chain, as well as enhance quality and sustainability. We are also exploring regenerative agriculture options to promote sustainable farming practices in Ghana,” he said.
In addition to the awards, each recipient received a laptop, Nestlé souvenirs, and a year’s supply of Nestlé products.
One Response