Watch the 100-year-old video of Achimota School that tells of Ghana's history like never before

Achimota School, originally known as Prince of Wales College and School, later Achimota College, is a historic co-educational boarding school in Ghana.

The school, which was founded in 1924 by Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, and Rev. Alec Garden Fraser, was formally opened in 1927.

Built to model the British public school system, Achimota was the first mixed-gender school established in the Gold Coast.

On October 22, 2024, Achimota School shared on its X page a 1947 film titled 'Here Is the Gold Coast', which provides a snapshot of the school’s early days.

The movie emphasised the collaboration between British and African teachers, describing it as "a real team."

Students at the time engaged in a range of practical and expressive activities, including art, cooking, washing, and learning first aid, which connected them deeply to local communities.

The post read, "In this 1947 film, Here Is The Gold Coast, it focuses on Achimota College, where the ‘teachers are British and African—a real team’. Students also learn new ways of expression through art, while women learn to cook and wash."

The movie portrayed Achimota as the first higher-education center on the Gold Coast and a stepping stone toward a university-level institution.

The film’s narrator also spoke of “the lessons you have taught us so that at last we may stand on our own two feet,” referring to Achimota as a symbol of hope for the future of the Gold Coast.

It added that students came from all over the Gold Coast, representing diverse backgrounds, including children of farmers, chiefs, teachers, and laborers.

In 1934, the first female students passed the school certificate at Achimota, marking a milestone in gender-inclusive education.

The curriculum promoted self-reliance through practical skills, encouraging students to learn through hands-on activities and to serve local communities, symbolising a bridge between academic knowledge and the real world.

The 1947 film not only documented the school’s educational philosophy but also served as a window into a changing Africa, revealing a progressive approach to colonial education and a vision for an independent future for Ghana at that time.

Watch the video below

#RoadToAchimotaAt100🎹 #NeverSeenBefore footage. In this 1947 film, Here Is The Gold Coast; it focuses on Achimota College where the ‘teachers are British and African - a real team’. Students also learn new ways of expression through art, while women learn to cook and wash. pic.twitter.com/MA5Wsbu62W

— Achimota School (@AchimotaSchool) October 22, 2024

In the meantime, follow Ernestina Asante as she tours the Asokwa Constituency and speaks with MP Patricia Appiagyei in this episode of Campaign Trail on GhanaWeb TV: