Teacher Risks Life Crossing River for 35 Years to Teach at Ellembelle
...No Life Jacket, No Risk Allowance and No Support
By; Kofi Mensah
In the remote community of Old Bakanta in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, one woman’s extraordinary dedication to education has captured the hearts of residents and sparked calls for national recognition.
For more than 35 years, Madam Grace Ackah, a devoted basic school teacher, has braved the dangers of the River Amanzule every single school day to ensure children in the area receive an education.
Her journey to the classroom is not by road or bridge, but by a small wooden canoe, often without a life jacket or any form of safety equipment.
According to community members, the veteran teacher crosses the river to and from school daily, risking her life on the sometimes unpredictable waters of the Amanzule River.
Despite the obvious dangers associated with the journey, she has reportedly received any special recognition from her employers or authorities for her decades of service.
“Madam Grace has dedicated her entire life to educating our children. Rain or shine, she crosses the river to teach. Yet nobody seems to have recognized her sacrifices,” a resident told The ARCHIVES.
What has shocked many residents even more is that, throughout her more than three decades of service, no significant support has been extended to her, not even a basic life jacket to ensure her safety while crossing the river.
Locals say successive governments, district authorities, and community leaders have failed to honour or support the selfless educator.
According to them, neither Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, past and present District Chief Executives (DCEs), nor opinion leaders have taken meaningful steps to assist her despite the evident risks she undertakes daily.
Residents describe Madam Grace as the embodiment of sacrifice and commitment, noting that she has consistently put the welfare and education of her pupils above her own safety.
Her story came to public attention after residents shared a short video of Madam Grace on social media, hoping to solicit support and draw attention to her remarkable service.
The video has since generated widespread admiration and renewed debate about the challenges confronting teachers in rural Ghana.
Many social media users have described Madam Grace as a national hero whose dedication reflects the often-overlooked sacrifices made by teachers in deprived communities across the country.
Her plight has also reignited discussions about the welfare of teachers working under difficult conditions, with many questioning why educators who make such enormous sacrifices receive little recognition or reward.
As calls grow louder for authorities to honour and support Madam Grace Ackah, many believe her story serves as a powerful reminder that some of Ghana’s true heroes work quietly in classrooms, shaping future generations while risking their own lives in the process.
