Achimota School observes Founders' Day

Accra, March 13, GNA - The Achimota Secondary School on Saturday held its 77th Founders Day celebrations with a call on both past and present students to build on the ideals, principles and visions of the founders for the school to maintain its enviable position in academic circles.

"There are still great opportunities to build on the vision, the foundation, the traditions and successes that have made Achimota one of the world's leading schools, if we set smart goals and act upon them," Professor Eugene Amonoo-Neizer, National President of the Old Achimotans Association (OAA) said.

Prof Amonoo-Neizer said the motto of the School, "That All May be One," told how the founding fathers, wanted the products of the school to live in unity and to pull their resources together to help mother Ghana in her national developmental programmes.

The Achimota School, which is the first Mixed school to be established in the Gold coast in 1927, was founded by Governor Gordon Guggisberg of the then Gold Coast, Reverend A.G. Fraser, the first headmaster of the school and Dr James Kwegyir Aggrey, an eminent Ghanaian educationist who also became the first Black Headmaster of the School.

The day is observed annually to remind both past and present students, teachers and parents of the ideals of the founders and the need to work hard to develop the school.

Prof Amonoo-Neizer said as the school continued to educate students with knowledge to become statesmen and leaders there was the need for them to seek wisdom that "comes from true humility and set good examples for their subordinates to emulate."

He said; Good leaders remember those who inspired, motivated and influenced them, therefore those who passed out of the school should continue to emulate its principles as the rise to prominence." Mrs Adelaide Kwami, Headmistress, said this year's anniversary was funded by the 1954 year-group who also handed the rehabilitated "famous" school clock to the school.

The clock, a Westminster chime, which was said to be the only one in the country, had been out of order since 1986 but various attempts by organisations to restore it had failed.

The '54 year-group, however, decided to rehabilitate it by bringing an expert from the UK to restore it at an estimated cost of about 200 million cedis.

The group also presented a set of books for the school's library.

Mrs Kwami commended the group for its "wonderful" support to the school over the years, saying, "I am particularly impressed about your effort to restore the famous clock to the school."

She said as part of the celebrations, the school's Kitchen cold room, which had broken down was repaired at a cost of 50 million cedis, a kiln used by arts students was also re-constructed at 31 million cedis, while an arts gallery was built at a cost of eight million cedis.

A parade by the school's cadet corps and a torchlight procession were some of the highlights of the celebrations.