ACCRA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday presented awards to 60 students who distinguished themselves in last year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for junior high school students.
This award was instituted in 1993 to commemorate the celebration of Ghana's birth. Every year, two graduates from the BECE are selected from each of the 10 regions for the awards. However 60 students were awarded this year to commemorate Ghana's 60th independence birthday.
Among the criteria for selection include academic criteria, participation in co-curricular activities, exemplary conducts and other special qualities of excellence.
President Akufo-Addo said "to be a stronger and more innovative nation, Ghana must do all it can to keep the dreamers dreaming".
He said Ghana is at the point where it needs big dreams to complete the transformation of the country.
"It is for this reason that investments in our educational system have become a key priority for my government," he said.
The Minister of Education Matthew Opoku Prempeh advised the award recipients to eschew complacency and build on their achievements.
Ghanaians celebrate their 60 years of independence on Monday after the country attained independence on March 6, 1957 from Britain.
