Miss Salomey Kwabea Agyei, founder of the Readspell Literacy Foundation, has won the Best Differentiated Learning Teacher Award at the Ghana Teacher Prize 2026, a recognition she says will strengthen her efforts to improve literacy among Ghanaian children.
The award is expected to boost the visibility and credibility of the Readspell project, opening up opportunities for partnerships and support to expand its literacy interventions across the country.
Miss Agyei said her vision was to establish reading clubs across Ghana, train more teachers in effective phonics instruction and make reading easier and more accessible to every Ghanaian child.
In an interview after receiving the award, she expressed optimism that the national recognition would help her reach more schools and learners while strengthening her mission to promote a strong reading culture in Ghana.
“Winning the 2026 Ghana Teacher Prize as Best Differentiated Learning Teacher will give Readspell greater visibility and credibility, creating opportunities for partnerships and support,” she said.
She added that the recognition had inspired her to continue making a positive impact in education and expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported her journey.
Encouragement to aspiring teachers
Miss Agyei urged aspiring teachers, particularly women, to remain committed to their profession, embrace innovation and pursue continuous learning, regardless of their backgrounds or the challenges they encountered.
She described teaching as more than a profession, saying it offered an opportunity to transform lives and communities.
“Do not wait until you have all the resources before making a difference,” she advised, stressing that perseverance, determination and passion could turn challenges into opportunities.
She encouraged upcoming teachers to believe in themselves and allow their impact to demonstrate the value of their work.
Message to the youth
The Readspell founder also urged young people to believe in their abilities, take their education seriously, develop their talents and cultivate the habit of reading.
She encouraged them to use technology positively, acquire relevant skills and remain disciplined and persistent in the face of difficulties.
Reflecting on her journey from academic struggles to national recognition through the Ghana Teacher Prize, Miss Agyei said one’s beginnings should not determine one’s future.
“My journey from academic struggles to national recognition through the Ghana Teacher Prize has taught me that our beginnings do not determine our endings,” she said.
She urged young people to take initiative with the resources available to them and seek opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
The award marks a significant milestone in Miss Agyei’s efforts to advance literacy and improve teaching and learning outcomes, while reinforcing the importance of innovative approaches to education in Ghana.
Ghana Teacher Prize
The Ghana Teacher Prize (GTP) is an annual award program that recognizes and celebrates outstanding teachers who have made significant contributions to education. It aims to motivate teachers, improve their work performance, and acknowledge the importance of the teaching profession.
The GTP is open to professionally trained and licensed teachers working in pre-tertiary education and colleges of education, both public and private. Participants must have at least five years of teaching experience. The selection focuses on educators who demonstrate exemplary leadership and innovative practices that positively impact students and their communities. A rigorous evaluation process ensures only the most deserving teachers are recognized.
Madam Abigail Agyeiwaa, an English Language teacher at Mangoase Senior High School (SHS) in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, was named Ghana’s Overall Most Outstanding Teacher at the 2026 Ghana Teacher Prize.
The Vice-President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman and the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu were among the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
