Ghanaian educator named Cambridge regional winner again — second year in a row

A Ghanaian teacher has once again put the country in the global spotlight after being named the Sub-Saharan African regional winner of the 2026 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. This is the second year in a row that a Ghanaian educator has won this honour.

Abigail Agyeiwaa, an English teacher at Mangoase Senior High School, won from over 1,500 nominated teachers across Sub-Saharan Africa for her work in education and community development. The award is organised by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and recognises great teachers who are making a real difference in classrooms and communities around the world.

Her win comes just one year after fellow Ghanaian teacher Portia Dzilah won the overall global prize. This has further strengthened Ghana’s growing reputation for educational excellence and new ideas.

Abigail, who started teaching in 2014 in the rural town of Adawso, has become well known for supporting quality education in underserved communities and pushing for equal chances for rural learners.

Over the years, her work has gone beyond classroom teaching into social programmes aimed at breaking down barriers that stop children, especially girls and vulnerable students, from staying in school.

Through setting up the KAGAS Foundation Ghana, she has led efforts focused on education, health awareness and gender empowerment within communities in the Akuapem North Municipality.

Speaking after the announcement, Abigail described education as a basic human right and said her love for teaching had always gone beyond just giving lessons. She explained that many students struggle not because they are not smart, but because of poverty, few opportunities and social problems that affect their confidence and ability to stay in school.

“For me, teaching has always meant understanding what prevents children from succeeding and trying to remove those obstacles,” she said, adding that the award would encourage her to keep supporting disadvantaged learners. Officials from Cambridge University Press & Assessment praised her commitment to changing education and improving communities.

Rod Smith, Group Managing Director for International Education at Cambridge, said Abigail represented the highest values of teaching by extending her influence beyond the classroom to improve the wellbeing of learners. He noted that her work shows how education can be a powerful tool for social change, especially in rural and underserved areas.

The 2026 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards received over 12,000 nominations from 126 countries, with nine teachers chosen as regional winners across different parts of the world. Public voting has now opened to decide the overall global winner, who will be announced on June 2, 2026.

Abigail will compete against the eight other regional winners for the top global honour. Voting is expected to close on May 13.

Her latest recognition is expected to energise conversations about teacher welfare, rural education and the role of teachers in national development.

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