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Mrs Fuseini shares story of her journey to the top as 2024 Best Teacher

Oustanding teacher in Ghana

Oustanding teacher in Ghana

Growing up, Mrs Fuseina Fusei­ni’s greatest ambition was to become a lawyer.

Her reason for that determination was simple – to ‘fight’ for the vulner­able in society and be an advocate against early marriage in her commu­nity.

• Mrs Fuseini doing
what she loves best
• Mrs Fuseini doing what she loves best

Though, she did not realise that childhood dream to become a lawyer due to financial difficulties, her pas­sion and desire for teaching over the years was given a very good though – and it paid off.

For her close followers, her biggest career honour chalked recently in the teaching industry came as little surprise.

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• Celebrating AU day with children
• Celebrating AU day with children

Mrs Fuseini was recently adjudged the first female kindergarten teacher to win the highest national honour for teachers.

She received that recognition at a forum at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi last weekend for her consistency, dedi­cation, hard work and innovation in teaching and learning.

For her prize, Mrs Fuseini received a three-bedroom house and a scholar­ship to study abroad if she so desires, with funding from the Ghana Educa­tion Trust Fund (GETFund).

The 47 year-old Kindergarten (KG) teacher at the Madina SDA Basic School in the Greater Accra Region with over a decade experience in the teaching profession shares her jour­ney with The Spectator.

Mrs Fuseini grew up in a community where teachers were respected and valued.

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This influenced her decision to ven­ture into teaching.

But that passion for teaching aside, Mrs Fuseini also realised that teaching can offer a similar platform to work as an advocate for the underprivi­leged and the marginalised in the society.

“Gone were the days, teachers commanded some sort of respect; they were seen to be disciplined. They were seen as mentors in the community. They were very influen­tial.”

“I realised teaching was also a form of advocacy to share ideas. Most of my family members were teachers and that even made it easy for me to go into the profession,” she ex­plained.

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Education

After completing Senior High School (SHS) at the Saint Monica’s School of Education at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti region, she furthered her education at the University of Educa­tion (Winneba) where she studied for diploma in Basic Education.

“Teaching Kindergaten for the past 15 years gives me so much joy. I have a feeling it’s my calling be­cause I teach children with ease and vibe with the children so easily,” she stated.

With her experience at the kin­dergarten level, Mrs Fuseini is in a better position to clear a few miscon­ceptions at that early stage of child education.

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She is aware of a few of these misconceptions, one of which is the school of thought that Kin­dergarten class or school is all about uniformed kids eat­ing and sleeping.

In her view, that stage of a child’s education or upbringing is very cru­cial and urged both teach­ers and parents to pay atten­tion to the little ones at that stage.

Explain­ing the educational curriculum used in teaching, Mrs Fuseini noted that three methods were employed in teaching the kids.

They are the differentiated, play-based and hands-on-learn methods.

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The differentiated method demands from the teach­er to allow the child to go about activities differently according to their strength.

In the play-based curriculum, the children are allowed to play and by so doing, it builds their creativity and supports their future aspiration.

Furthermore, she said children were sometimes grouped according to their abilities in the hands-on-learn method to explore with their hands.

Feeling

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Sharing how she felt when she was announced as winner of the presti­gious award – The Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year, she exclaimed: “I was full of joy and also proud of my achievement and immense contribu­tion to the country.

“This is history because this is the first time a kindergarten teacher has ever won such an award and I count myself blessed and lucky.”

She commended the initiative to reward dedicated teachers, saying the recognition was key to bring out the best in every teacher.

Mrs Fuseini believes that dedication to her profession has played a signif­icant role in her achieve­ments, adding that, “This is going to motivate and inspire so many teachers to do their best despite the stress associated with the teaching job.”

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“If I get the needed sup­port, I would want to do my PHD in teaching. I still want to focus on kinder­garten in order to rebrand the early child education sector”

Challenges

Infrastructure is one major challenge facing ed­ucation at this level. Some are the inadequate space that compel authorities to put too many children in a class.

This, she explained, makes too overwhelming and children some­times finds it difficult to pay atten­tion in class.

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She said despite the few gains chalked at the sector, they were limited sometimes in the area of resources due to the lack of logistics like puzzles, building blocks and com­puters to support the curriculum.

Teachers are described as a bridge upon which people use to get to their destination and therefore must not be neglected.

There is, therefore, the need to make provisions for them not only through finances but ensuring that they teach in a good environment.

Family

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She was born to Fuseina Salifu and Amina Fuseini in Ketekrachi in the Oti Region of Ghana.

She is the third child among eight siblings and married to Mr Zibrim Biosama and are blessed with three children.

When Mrs Fuseini is not in the class­room, she can watch movies all day.

She appealed to all teachers to show dedication to the profession and called on the government to support the teaching department with incen­tives.

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By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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Prisca Abah: Ghana’s modelling powerhouse

 Ghanaian model, philanthropist and ad­vocate, Prisca Abah, who is known for her contributions to the fashion indus­try, is strutting her stuff on higher levels.

She was recently selected as one of the models for the Big8 Girls Project, an initia­tive by Clinton Samuel to celebrate influen­tial African models.

The project consisted of three episodes: the Bio Shoot which highlighted Abah’s professionalism through a corporate-themed photoshoot; Afrodeity which focused on showcasing her confidence and artistry, celebrating the African divine feminine and royalty which presented Abah as a symbol of African cultural pride, embodying strength and elegance.

The Big8 concept, produced by Clinton Samuel, intentionally highlights and cele­brates the strongest and most influential models on the African continent, congratu­lating their steadfastness and contributions to the African fashion industry, even as they grind and win in other aspects of life.

The Big8 sets hierarchy and high standards in the African fashion and modelling industry, crowning eight of them with the ‘Top Model’ status as the leading female models in Ghana at the moment.

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“Working with these fiery women will sure­ly ignite more creative minds and stir the pot of positive competition,” said Clinton.

Abah’s early life and career

Prisca Abah began her modelling career in 2013, achieving her first notable milestone in 2014 with an editorial shoot for 5-Star International Modelling Agency. In 2015, she made her runway debut at the Ghana Fashion Awards.

From 2016 to 2018, Abah participated in major African fashion events such as Glitz Africa Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg, and Rhythms on the Runway.

During this period, she received acco­lades, including the “Best Female Model of the Year” and spoke as a UN Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goal 12 at the Sustainable Rice Platform Conference.

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International recognition and pageantry

In 2022, Abah expanded her reach by entering the pageantry world. She placed as the first runner- up at the Beauty of Africa International Pageant and represented Ghana at the Miss Globe World Finals, where she earned the title of Miss Globe Africa 2022.

Philanthropy

Abah founded the Palins Founda­tion, a non-profit organisation, aimed at empowering women and youth through initiatives in education, skills training, and personal development.

Awards and collaborations

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In 2023, Abah received the Best Model of the Year award at the Time Ghana Arts and Entertain­ment Awards. She has collaborat­ed with leading designers such as Charlotte Prive and Ejiro Amos Tafiri, further solidifying her influence in African fashion.

Legacy

Prisca Abah is recognised not only for her contribu­tions to the fashion industry but also for her philanthropic efforts. Her journey serves as an inspiration to young Africans, encouraging them to pursue their dreams while giving back to society.  

By Edem Mensah Tsortorme

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Juventus Duorinaah, Ghana’s first deaf Lawyer

• Juventus Duorinaah Esq.
• Juventus Duorinaah Esq.

 In a landmark moment for Ghana’s legal landscape, Juventus Duorinaah Esq., has etched his name in histo­ry as the country’s first lawyer with a hearing impairment.

His journey from a humble back­ground to breaking barriers in the legal profession serves as a powerful inspiration for countless individuals in the disability community, proving that determination and resilience can defy societal expectations and create path­ways to success.

For Juventus, the recognition as Gha­na’s first deaf lawyer feels surreal.

“It feels like a dream,” he reflects, acknowledging the stereotypes sur­rounding deafness and the humble background from which he hails.

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Juventus’ passion for law sparked in 2008 while seeking admission to the University of Ghana (UG). Although he initially faced challenges due to the nature of the application process, the help of his older brother and his deter­mined spirit led him to pursue a Bache­lor of Arts degree in 2012, followed by a Master of Laws at Cardiff University in 2014.

His passion for the study of law became highly intense when he had to study alongside qualified lawyers from several jurisdictions, even though he did not have a legal background. Here, he faced the unique challenge of study­ing without sign language interpreters, relying instead on a palantypist to tran­scribe lectures.

Juventus’ role model was his profes­sor and mentor, Professor Luke Clem­ent, who profoundly inspired him in shaping his understanding of law and human rights.

He remembers Prof. Thomas Stephens from the University of Ghana School Of Law, who inspired him with his way of dressing, in-depth knowledge of the law and engagement with students.

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He recounts the enormous challenges he encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when lectures moved online, and Dr Stephen’s tremendous support to ensure things moved quickly and smoothly for him.

“I also had the chance to have a few classes with the Dean himself, Prof. Raymond Atuguba. He taught the course such that some of us never felt scared as other lecturers made the course,’ he recalled.

Juventu’s academic journey was fraught with challenges, particularly in communication.

The year 2007 was the last time he studied with deaf peers. He was of­ten the only deaf person in his classes throughout the following years of his education, which made interaction with peers difficult.

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Despite these hurdles, he remained high-spirited, studying late into the night and seeking help from kind class­mates when necessary.

Reflecting on his academic experience at UG, he connected his affection for the university to his older brother, who is also an alumnus. He felt inspired to be a student of the premier university, saying he would choose the University of Ghana any time, any day, if given the chance to further his studies or work.

The University Of Ghana School Of Law, along with its Dean, Professor Raymond Atuguba, the Director of Legal Education of the Ghana School of Law, Yaw Bramiah Oppong, and his capable team, including the Registrar and Depu­ty Registrar of the Ghana School of Law and the Office for Students with Special Needs (UG), made significant contribu­tions to his journey.

Prof. Atuguba acknowledged Juven­tus’ achievement as evidence of the university’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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Commenting on how the school accommodated his special needs, Prof. Atugugba explained that ‘In the case of Juventus, we worked closely with him to understand and address his special needs, ensuring he had access to the teaching and learning resources in the appropriate formats that would support his academic journey.

Professor Atuguba noted that Juven­tus’s journey is just beginning, and the future holds promise for him and the many lives he aims to touch along the way.

Juventus’s close friend, Ida Esi McOw­usu Esq., described her first encounter with Juventus as ‘intriguing.’ “My first meeting with Juventus was in class, where he sat right in front of me in first year,” Ida reveals. She was intrigued and wanted to find out more about him, especially how Juventus navigated his way to this level. “I got closer and we became friends from there,” she remarked.

Mr Francis Kweku Essel, Juventus’ interpreter, shed light on the primary challenges he faced in carrying out his job, particularly the complex nature of legal terminology and concepts. This validates Ida’s comment on the inter­preters’ lack of legal background as a challenge Lawyer Duorinaah encoun­tred.

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Juventus dreams of becoming a judge and aims to enhance justice delivery while serving as a role model for young people with disabilities.

He is currently mentoring a group of young deaf students interested in pursuing law, hoping to pave the way for future generations. What’s next for Lawyer Juventus? His next step is to complete his pupilage, after which he can decide further his legal career.

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