Achimota celebrates 75th Founders Day

The Achimota School Cadet Corps on Saturday held a ceremonial parade as part of activities marking the 75th Founders' Day celebration of the school.

The Founders' Day is held every first Saturday in March and starts with a parade in remembrance of the founders of the school who include Sir Gordon Guggisberg, Reverend Alexander Fraser and Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey. Other activities include tree planting, a durbar and thanksgiving service.


The parade reviewed by Major General Carl Coleman, Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College was made up of 60 cadets and six officers with music provided by the Fifth Battalion of Infantry Corps of Drums.


The Cadet, commanded by school cadet Samir Bou-Chedid, a final year science student, was formed in 1955 and had contributed in furtherance of the noble objectives for setting up such corps in schools and colleges. It had since been sponsored by the Recce Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces which has provided uniforms, instructors and logistics support for training.


Maj. Gen. Coleman who is also an old Achimotan of the 1964 year-group said the formation of the cadet corps had gone a long way to produce men and women imbued with integrity, patriotism and a high sense of service to Ghana and other African countries.


"Cadets all times set good examples by refraining from acts of carelessness, insubordination, display of impudence, disrespect and unruly behaviour, which sadly to say, often characterises the conduct of some students in some institutions."


Maj. Gen. Coleman noted that the cadet corps had more females than male students and urged more males to join since it formed the basic fundamentals of gaining admission into the Military Academy, which would soon be upgraded into a degree awarding institution.

Awards were presented to 11 members of the cadet corps for outstanding performance with the overall best student cadet and parade commander award going to Master Samir Bou-Chedid.

Justice Afreh warns students against criminal activities

Justice Kwame Afreh, a Judge of the Court of Appeal on Saturday warned students who indulge in criminal activities not to believe that they were exempted from the general laws of the country.


"Every person of or above 12 years of age is fully liable for his or her criminal acts. If he is below 17 he may be tried in a juvenile court but that does not exempt an offender from Criminal Liability," Justice Afreh noted when he addressed the Achimota school's 75th Founders' Day celebration to remember the founding fathers of the school that worked tirelessly to achieve a high standard of education.


These founders were Sir Gordon Guggisburg a Governor of the Gold Coast, Reverend Alexander Frasser a Missionary, and Dr. Kwagyir Aggrey a Ghanaian educationist. The occasion, which saw the rich cultural display of the various ethnic groups, was on the theme "Achimota and Nation Building."


Justice Afreh also an old student of the 1952-year group said the epidemic of lawlessness had infected educational institutions, especially second cycle schools, adding "These things are happening because people think they can do them with impunity.


He said these days, students do not just petition, protest or demonstrate but go on rampage, destroy property and cause mayhem. Justice Afreh said there were worrying reports of students' involvement in robbery, stealing, use of narcotic drugs, drinking and combat over girls among other things adding that the conviction for any offence could have tragic and serious consequences.


"Robbery is punishable by life imprisonment, smoking or possession of narcotic drugs by a minimum of 10 years imprisonment, stealing by a maximum of 25 years imprisonment, causing harm by 10 years."

He called on students to always use dialogue to solve problems and expressed the hope that students of the school would not jump on the bandwagon of lawlessness and violence.


"Those of us who had the privilege of being educated at Achimota have the responsibility to be standard-bearers of all that is noble, excellent and decent in our society."


Mrs Charlotte Brew-Graves, Headmistress of the School said these founders did not only establish high educational institutions but also built important structures like the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital and the Takoradi Harbour that provide great services to the nation.


However, these people whose efforts permeate all facets our lives were most often forgotten, she added. Mrs Brew-Graves urged the students not to compromise the high standards set by the founders but to work hard to improve upon it.