Abuakwa State College, Kibi is 70 years old this year. The occasion is being marked at Kyebi tomorrow, 27th October 2007. It is a pity that I am not in Ghana to take part in the celebrations. Reading about it this morning on the ?africaonline? website has sent a chill down my spine.
Abuakwa State College, ?Abusco?, as it is called was the first of its kind to be founded by a traditional council due to the vision of Nana Ofori Attah I. This noble achievement should be viewed in the context of the time: colonial times when educational policies were fashioned by colonial powers and missionaries. The school has grown to produce a lot of illustrious products who have and continue to serve our nation and the world very well. Such illustrious products include none other than the current Okyenhene, Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin. Others are Mr Apenteng Appiah-Menka, Dr Kwakye Marfo, Dr Kwaku Osafo and Col (rtd) Oteng, Asare Konadu (the writer) and a host of others.
I attended Abuakwa State College from September 1974 to June 1979. I must say that, even then the school was steeped in tradition and one could not help being awestruck as a form one student. The annual Founder?s day celebration and the procession to the Kibi Women?s Training College, clad in white bedsheets, to visit the foundation stone, was quite a spectacle to behold. The singing of ?Susubiribi?, the school anthem was always a solemn occasion. Sunday worship was really enjoyable with Agyei Peprah behind the piano.
The school blazer capped it all. I remember one evening in my village with my school blazer on and a man approaching me and asking whether I attended ?Abuakwaman?. I can recall the astonishment in his eyes when I replied in the affirmative. For among the Akyems, Abusco was held in high esteem and there was my pride. On another occasion, the school choir led by Mr Kwame Ampene had appeared on television. You can imagine my pride the next day when walking the streets of 37 Military Hospital and the plaudits I was receiving. That was Abusco for you then.
These would not be all of my recollections. We did excel in sports too. Abusco used to host all Eastern region schools for the annual cross-country meeting. I remember in our days cross-country used to be won by Michael Agbodo of Okuapeman Secondary School. Come and see our spirit of anticipation in 1975 when we thought we had the likes of Baffour Acheampong who would finally challenge Agbodo and Baffour did it! There was the case of Ben Kusi from Kwahu Ridge Secondary School, who was overcome with cramp and could not run the last few metres. Come and see the number of students running alongside him shouting ?slow motion?, ?slow motion?, ?slow motion?. Oh those were the days!
There was the school band (Sticky Fingers) with members like Lt. Col. George Danso (Signals, Burma Camp) and Kwasi Hiango (the music master?s son) who took part in annual pop-chain competitions. We were once crowned national champions beating the likes of Adisco and Mfantsipim.
The school was a serious place too and we were really ?afraid? of the seniors. The likes of Sonny Osei Bonsu, Owoahene Acheampong, Poakwa Otopa, Nii Bulley and Kenneth Akuffo-Bekoe were ?terrifying?! To cap it all the teaching staff were respected. The Headmaster, Mr Seth Allotey, was held in very high esteem. His command of the English language and his accent was admirable. There were Mr Alexander Tetteh (Assistant Headmaster), Mr Peprah, Mr Mamah and Mr Asem (Senior Housemaster) and Mr Amoako-Attah who were really professionals. On the lighter side there was Mr Timothy Panou (French master) who suffered no fools and Mr G O D Twum-Ampofo (Papacy) whose history classes were really entertaining. There was Mr Agyemang [owo (snake) tie], the maths master who got this nickname because his tie was so narrow and long! I remember once the whole school was lashed because students shouted ?owo tie? at morning assembly.
The school then had a mix of students from all backgrounds and tribes. There was Al-Hassan from the north; Nii Mensah, Hazel Nortey and Agatha Brown (Gas); the Kwaben folks (Asamoah Darkwa, Henry Ampomah and Asante Boadu); George Adusei, Patrick Adusei and Afiriyie - achiparago (Ashantis) as well as Oheneba Owusu Danso (yes Dr. Oheneba of Okomfo Anokye), James Addai and Dickson Boakye from Ejura; the likes of me (Ohemeng-Aboagye), Chapman Kyei, Twumasi, Gyamerah and Nti-Boateng from the Kade area; and Josephine Baah and Stephen Baah (Kwahus). Of course there was the Kyebi brigade led by Akoto Akwah, Amaning, Fella Boat and the Tottimehs. How can I forget Ampaw Darko, Bredu Boateng and Samuel Agyei (Alonzo) from Oseem-Nsutam?
Academically, the school held its own. Our days could boast of William Darko (last heard off, was the Senior Medical Officer for GBC), George Adusei (Chemical Engineer), Antwi Peasah (Building Technologist) among others. Someone would ask: what did you do yourself? Well I enjoyed my days at Abusco. My character and predisposition in life (to work honestly and hard) were influenced by my days there. I got my grades, went on to do 6th form at St. Augustine?s and Civil Engineering at UST. I have studied at the University of Manchester?s Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and University of Salford for advance degrees. I am now working at a senior level in Britain?s nuclear reprocessing industry. So you see, Abusco laid the foundation for what I am today, as I believe it did for hundreds of others. It really deserves a pat on the back. Abusco ayekoo!!!!
To all Abuscodians, I say do not lose sight of the school motto: SUSUBIRIBI! Long live Mother Abusco! Happy birthday!
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