By: Kobina Baidoo
Proud Alumni and students of Achimota School on Saturday, March 2, 2024 came together to witness a prestigious ceremony held to celebrate their 97th Anniversary and honor the Founders of Achimota School.
Established in 1927 as the first dual gender secondary boarding school of the Gold Coast, the Achimota School has made tremendous strides in raising pacesetters and visionaries like Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.
The ceremony with the theme, ‘Nurturing the Present, Restoring the Legacy.’ joined an impactful line up of activities in commemoration of Achimota’s Founders’ Day.
The august event did not only honor the founding fathers of the prestigious institution, Guggisberg, Fraser and Aggrey, but also recognized the great men and women that have walked through the corridors of Achimota School, duly equipped to make global impact.
The Founders’ Day celebrations and all affiliated activities were made possible through a joint effort of three year groups. Identified as Akoras, Akora 1974, 1984 and 1999 proudly sponsored the celebrations and stood as an inspiration for the younger generation to strive for higher heights.
This year’s celebrations kicked off with an art exhibition dubbed, ‘AKORA Art’ revealing the artistic appeal and appreciating the creative minds of Akora artists like Ato Delaquis, Theodosia Okoh, Oku Ampofo, Bentil and Amon Kotei the creator of Ghana’s Coat of Arms.
After the exhibition, a dental screening and treatment outreach was organized by the Akora 1974 year group, offering free dental services to hundreds of Achimota School students.
Climaxing activities on Thursday, February 29, the Akora 1999 year group, took the due honors of launching Achimota School Endowment Trust (ASET) Fund. The fund was purposely designed to garner funds equivalent to $10 mil USD by the centennial year, to cover all expenses that come with delivering state of the art education and boarding materials.
On Friday, March 1, 2024 students gathered for the Achimota School customary torchlight procession, Bonfire which revealed the student camaraderie and unity in Achimota School. Akora 1999 year group as sponsors of the Bonfire gathering, made the night an unforgettable one for first, second and third years alike.
Saturday March 2, 2024 as the schedule day for the ceremony, commenced with a structured procession from the Achimota School cadet corps.
As the cadet corps, under the command of reviewing officer Air Commodore Thomas NiiFio Okai of the 1984-year group. ( Deputy Commandant -Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff college.) marched in mark time accordance, they emulated the
unique culture, tradition and values of integrity, patriotism, discipline, intellectual and moral development, as well as a high sense of service, and national leadership.
A Grand Durbar organized as part of the activities marked the high point of the revelry. The Grand Durbar was heavily endowed with a series of dance performances backed by the school song performed in traditional and internationally recognized context settings.
During the Grand Durbar, Old Achimotan Association President, Akora Joel Nettey, charged all alumni and students of Achimota School to acknowledge this 97th Anniversary as a point of reflection and recalibration on the objectives and values on which the school was founded as they eagerly anticipate the forthcoming centenary celebrations. He charged all to have prime goals of national of facelifting the structure and governance of secondary schools in Ghana and positioning them for success. “Let us ask ourselves if Achimota School, as it is currently structured, is in the position to deliver on these objectives and values. Let us as alumni of this great institution look at ourselves with a new lens and find possible avenues of investment we can get involved in to help Achimota school regain its glory in Ghana and beyond.”
Special Guest speaker, Akora Adrian Nii Odoi Oddoye, addressed all students of Achimota school and touted Achimota School as a hub of academic excellence and public-spiritedness. The philanthropist encouraged the students to embark on the journey per the theme of the event, to restore the legacy of the Achimota School. He highlighted that restoring the legacy stands on the shoulders of the present students. In his keynote address he said, “As Achimota celebrates its 97th Founder’s Day, it is imperative that we all reflect on how we can actively contribute to restoring and safeguarding this legacy of academic excellence and public-spiritedness for future generations.”
Part of his message, were recommendations he believed will set the track towards the success of Achimota School in achieving this objective of a lifetime. “The collective wisdom and experience of Achimota alumni and staff is an asset. We should actively seek ways to collaborate with the government and the school administration to contribute to the school’s governance; empowering the school board with autonomy ensures that decisions are made with the best interests of the school and its legacy in mind; independence allows for strategic planning and execution of policies that align with Achimota’s values; while collaboration is essential, excessive interference from external bodies can hinder the school’s ability to maintain its unique identity and legacy; we must advocate for a balance that preserves Achimota’s traditions and values; we must actively support and participate in programs and activities that continue to foster wisdom and character development. Mentorship programs, leadership seminars, and community service initiatives are just a few examples of how we can contribute to nurturing the youth and contributing to the Achimota legacy.”
The guest speaker spoke as a proud member of the Akora 1974 Year Group who partnered with Akora 1984 to rehabilitate and convert the original old assembly hall of the school into a ‘state-of-the-art’ multipurpose facility as their legacy project for the Achimota School.
The project which was scheduled for completion by November 2024, met an early completion despite the extended focus from building rewiring to extended repairs of leaking roofs and damaged ceilings; upgrading electrical infrastructure; renovating washrooms; restoring parquet floors; restoring the doors; improving the audio room and hall with audiovisual equipment; and a fresh coat of paint from the white, black and orange to white and shades of grey in line with the colour scheme of the Aggrey Chapel all completed by May 1, 2024.
This in hand lifted the estimated cost of the project from around GH¢1,320,000 (US$120,000) which excludes the donations in kind and professional services estimated to an additional GH¢800,000. 00 – GH¢ 1,000,000.00
Aside the legacy project, the year group presidents of 1974 and 1984-year groups Akora Gordon Quartey and Akora Ayitey Bulley along with their members funded the 2024 Motown Founders’ Day celebrations marking their 50th and 40th years, respectively.
Headmaster of Achimota School, Ebenezer Graham Acquaah on behalf of students and staff extended extreme gratitude to the 1974 and 1984 year groups for the good work done. “Achimota School is indeed grateful to all celebrating year groups for the unflinching support and the investments made to keep the school running smoothly. I wish success and prosperity to all alumni and students personal as we all progress towards positioning Achimota School as a Global Centre of Excellence in Secondary Education.” he said.
On Sunday March 3, 2024 the curtains were drawn with a thanksgiving service, where Alumni and students were encouraged by a sermon and address delivered by former presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana and chairman of the Ghana Peace Council Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante . He admonished all patrons to expand their horizon, and dare to go above and beyond in their personal and collective quest to achieve greatness and restore the legacy of Achimota school. Also featured in the service, was a melodious choral rendition delivered by the Achimota School choir.
A grand feast was held soon after the service at the newly refurbished assembly hall for all Alumni as they dined and grooved to the retro music of their respective years in Achimota School. This year’s Founders’ Day ended fruitfully, marking the countdown of the forthcoming centennial anniversary in 2027.