Airtel Ghana, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company in Education and Community Relations has commended Miss Afua Ansah, the 2016 National Spelling Bee champion and Ghana’s first representative to the Scripps Spelling Bee championship in the United States of America, for the courage and determination she displayed at the grand finale.

The Smartphone Network reputed for its commitment to promoting education in the country is celebrating Miss Afua Ansah with a full year scholarship for her remaining year at Christ the King School.

Making the announcement when the national champion, her mother Mrs. Rita Ansah and Eugenia Tachie-Menson of the Young Educators Foundation – organisers of the Scripps Spelling Bee paid a courtesy call on the company, Lucy Quist, Managing Director of Airtel Ghana and reigning Telecom CEO of the year said “We are immensely proud of what you have achieved at such a young age as Africa first ever representative at the Scripps Spelling Bee global competition.

I have heard many congratulating you for making Africa proud. Indeed you are more than a Ghanaian or African champion, you are a global champion. Out of over 11 million young people across the world who signed up, you stood tall. You made it to the finals as one of the top 20 spellers across the world. You have truly demonstrated great potential and inspired many people – young and old”.

She continued “Let this experience inspire and drive you on to greater heights because there’s absolutely nothing you cannot achieve if you put your mind to it. At Airtel Ghana, we believe in empowering people – especially young people to fully realise their potential. To start you off on your journey to greatness, we are offering a full scholarship to see you through your last year in school. This is our way of congratulating you for being an example to your peers”.

Mrs. Quist also commended Eugenia Tachie-Menson and her team from Young Educators Foundation for spearheading the Scripps Spelling Bee competition in Ghana.

She said “Congratulations Eugenia for the vision and the dedication you have applied to make this possible. To think that you and your team have been at this for a decade is highly commendable. Young people need platforms such as this to show the world what they have. For being a conduit for educating and inculcating literacy in our young children, you deserve all the accolades you’re getting for your hard work”.

Afua Ansah the 14 year national sensation who flew the flag of Ghana high and represented the entire continent at the recently ended Scripps Spelling Bee finals in the USA qualified as part of the top 45 spellers across the world bravely sailing through the competition to emerge as one of the best 20 contestants at the end of the competition. Airtel Ghana also donated books and stationery to the spelling champion. Mrs. Rita Ansah thanked Airtel Ghana for the kind gesture. She said “We are grateful for this show of kindness and love from Airtel Ghana to Afua. This is truly touching. Accept our utmost gratitude for investing in the life of Afua”.

On her part, Afua thanked Airtel for the wonderful gifts and promised to excel at her education to fully realise her potential.

Airtel Ghana has been in the forefront of promoting and sponsoring education in Ghana through its Schools Adoption programme – investing in infrastructure and teaching and learning materials as well as its Evolve with STEM initiative through which the company invests in transforming the mindset of young people and empowering them to embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Airtel Ghana has won several awards for its community investments including Best CSR Company for Education at the Ghana CSR Excellence Award and Best Company for Community Relations at the Institute of Public Relations Awards.