Official Newsletter of the Achimota School Foundation ( dba AC2010 )
Keeping
The Flame of Hope
Burning for
Future Generations
of Achimotans
June 12, 2008
CommonRoom
updates
Volume 2, Issue 8
Send-Off Ceremony
IN THIS ISSUE
LIVING WATERS
2
TRUE TALES &TOLI
3
APAGYAFO CHOPBOX
4
TSOO BWEI!
5
EDITOR’S NOTES
8
FOUND… ALIVE!
A Living Legend
(See story on P3)
for Retired Staff
After 38 years of dedicated service to Achimota
School, Mrs. Flora Ivy Mensah retired in April this
year and along with three other staff members,
was honored at a retirement farewell ceremony on
May 11th.
Mrs. Mensah came to Achimota in 1970 as a
biology teacher and was housemistress of House
11, now Susan Ofori-Atta House, from 1970-1972.
She then transferred to the newly formed House
17 as its first housemistress, where she created a
house spirit that enabled that house to win many
inter-house competitions. In January 1975, she
was appointed supervisor of the Western
Compound but had to be moved to Slessor House
due to injury from a car accident. In November
1976 she was appointed Senior Housemistress of
Achimota School. She became head of the biology
department in 1980, then head of the science
department in 1982.
In June 1995 she assumed the role of Assistant
Headmistress in Charge of Students' Affairs; in
October 1995 she became the Assistant Head in
charge of Academic Work and in May 2003 was
appointed Assistant Head in Control of the School
Administration. From December 2006 to August 2007
she was the Acting Headmistress of the school. As a
teacher she was efficient, conscientious, meticulous
and responsible. The problems and hardships that
teachers faced and personal issues did not deter her
from performing her duties diligently.
Restore the Gem: A Friend’s Wish
I first heard of Achimota
School in 1962 when I was
registering for the Common
Entrance Examination (a public exam to gain admission to
secondary school in Ghana in
those days). I did not choose
Achimota School, I chose
Prempeh College. There was a
classmate of mine who was so
determined to gain admission
to Achimota School that he
made it his first, second and
third choices. Unfortunately he
failed to gain admission to
Achimota School because he
did not make the mark.
Achimota School, founded in
the 1920s, has over the years
She was a resource person in the Ministry of
Education Training Program for Biology Teachers
in Senior Secondary Schools. In 1974 and 1990
she co-authored Project for Science Integration
Books 1 and 2, and Senior Secondary Biology
textbooks respectively. She also took a keen
interest in extra-curricular activities, and was
the chief organizer of the Ewe ethnic group during Founders‘ Day Celebrations.
Mrs. Mensah won the
OAA Best Teacher
award in 1996 when
it was initially instituted. Her initiative,
skillfulness in interpersonal relations,
and effectiveness as
a senior staff member and school administrator endeared
her to the hearts of
many.
Mrs. Flora Mensah
Also retired this year is Mr. Emmanuel Kofi
Ohene-Kena, Senior Housemaster and Head of
the Visual Arts department, after 30 years of
service to Achimota. He was a dedicated senior
member of staff, served on the school board
and held other positions in the school. He was
also a resource person for the Ministry of Education and helped design and write the new syllabus for the new Educational Reforms in his subject area.
(cont on P6)
— by Kwaku Amoo-Appau
displayed and maintained high
academic and intellectual standards in secondary school education in Ghana. It has also done
well in the field of sports. The
College has consistently and
continuousy produced great
scholars, bureaucrats and leaders of high intellectual ability
over the years.
Products of Achimota School
occupy important national and
international positions in the
private and public sectors. The
first President of Ghana,
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,
of blessed memory, was a product of the Training College wing
of the school. It was through the
leadership and untiring efforts
of Dr. Nkrumah that Ghana
attained its political independence from the British in March
1957. I should also mention
that Ghana‘s premier university, the University of Ghana,
was an offshoot of Achimota
School.
It is unfortunate and sad that
this citadel of academic and
intellectual excellence in secondary school education in
Ghana, has, for quite some
time now, fallen on hard times.
This is a sad reflection on the
perilous state of affairs in
Ghana over the years.
(Cont. on P5, bottom)
Kwaku Amoo-Appau
product of
Prempeh College,
Friend of Achimota
CommonRoom Updates
Page 2
Volume 2, Issue 8
Living Waters
Spotlight on Akoras who are changing the World around them...
Akora Ben Owusu Firempong: The Cadet Corps and beyond
Akora Ben Owusu-Firempong
(aka BOF)
Class of 1979, Cadbury House
Just prior to his current
position as UN Security
Coordinator for Asia-Pacific
Region in the UN
Department of Safety and
Security, New York (which
he has held since Feb 2007),
BOF Worked in Darfur for the
UN OHCHR (2006/2007) as
Human Rights Trainer for
the African Union Mission in
Darfur. He is married to
Priscilla Akuoko-Boateng
(who went to that ‘bad’
school, Wesley Girls) and
they have 3 kids, Brenda
(18), Deborah (16) &
Eugene(13).
In March 2006, by a series of
coincidences and, having
failed to ensnare Akora Colonel Charles Richter-Addo for
the role, I found myself
mounting the dais as the reviewing officer for the Achimota School Cadet Corps
Founders‘ Day Parade. It
dawned on me much later
that I was in fact ending my
military career at the same
place where, thirty-two years
earlier, I had started it (at
least in my mind).
while the rest of the country
went about their normal business, we, under Cadet Generals Afortowovloh, Archie Anyidoho and Roberta Gardiner,
defeated Ghana‘s enemies in
fierce mock battles on the
Winneba and Prampram
plains and in the jungles of
Sunyani. We relayed our
‗mission accomplished‘ messages to General Headquarters, and Ghana was declared
safe – at least for the long
vac.
I became a cadet in Form 1
and, being barely five feet
tall, my first uniform and
boots had been so large that
when ordered to march, I
took three paces before my
uniform moved. My beret sat
on my ears, barely touching
my head, and covering my
right eye. My rifle and I were
of equal height. Every Friday
afternoon, we would don our
uniforms, assume military
ranks and play soldier till
suppertime. We were taught
parade square stuff, to shoot,
ride horses and find our way
using maps and compasses.
During the long vacation,
Cadet training was certainly
useful in my military life. It‘s
the only way I can explain
how I passed my map reading
exams having dozed – nay,
slept – through eight weeks
of map reading lectures. Even
more useful was the silent
but effective network of
Akoras in uniform; and they
were well positioned to help
in both professional and personal matters. Akora Major
Akwasi Adusei (1974) navigated me through the tortuous path of wife-hunting.
Almost twenty years later,
I‘m still enjoying the fruit of
his labour.
A Chat with BOF
— by Maria Kwami Gwira
BOF and I reconnected after all these years,
at the OAA NCA Bash in 2007, and recently
played catch-up for his Living Waters profile.
Important Career Highlight:
In 1984, BOF taught English part-time at Achimota, during which time he earned the singular
distinction of being one of the only living people
ever to hear Mrs. Sey speak Pidgin English!
Bof, I remember you as being very active,
an all-rounder at Achimota, weren’t you?
I ended up as a regular ‘Citizen’, not a prefect.
But yes, I was in the Cadet Corps, the School
Choir and Opera, and played on the Volleyball and
Basketball teams.
For those who have not kept up with your
adventures, tell us what you did after you
left Achimota.
I went to Legon in 1981 and got a Bachelor of
Arts (Hons) in Economics and Psychology. Then
it was on to the Ghana Military Academy, Teshie
(1985/86); the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst UK (1986/87); and the Nigeria Armed
Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria
(1996-1997).
Upon my return to Ghana, I was commissioned
as infantry officer in the 2nd Battalion, Takoradi.
In 2006, I was an officer in the Ghana Army, a
Lieutenant Colonel at the time of my departure
from the Ghana Army. Appointments included
Commanding Officer, Jungle Warfare School;
Command Operations Officer, HQ Southern
Command; and briefly, Deputy Director of Army
Operations.
I spent most of the time in military teaching at
the Jungle Warfare School (Internal Security
and Counter insurgency operations) and the
Ghana Military Academy (Tactics and map reading).
(cont on P 4)
The late Akora Major Max
Okwabi (1974) prepared me
for my promotion exams, and
the attending physician for
my children, when I started
procreating in droves, was
Akora Colonel Raph Ametepi
(1974). I‘ve since forgiven
him for recommending a vasectomy after one long night
with a malaria-ridden child.
As a unit commander, my
requests for much-needed
logistics were fast-tracked
and almost always approved
(much to the annoyance of
other commanders), courtesy
of the Army Commander,
Akora General John Smith.
Akora Colonel Leba-Kamanya
(class of ‘76), Base Workshop
Commander, also applied the
fast tracking principle to my
unit vehicles. For free beer
and meals (in that order)
during the frequent
‗brokages‘, the usual stops
were the residences of Akoras
General ‗Joe-Sly‘ Nkrumah
and Colonel John ‗Oshinkpa‘
Okai.
Outside a few acts of good
humoured-revenge, I too
visited the patronage of the
older Akoras on those who
joined the army after me. It
gave me great satisfaction to
order Akora Colonel Leba-K
(who had been both Deputy
Senior Prefect and cadet sergeant-major when I was in
Form 4) to execute push-ups
and watch him comply. But
my military seniority over him
was temporary and, having
made him atone for all the
‗fatigue‘ at his hands, I called
a truce when he regained his
seniority.
So coming back to the Founders Day Parade, I relaxed
and enjoyed the beautiful
parade, keeping my speech
brief and knowing that one
day, some of these young
people, like me, would follow
their dreams and end up on
the dais awash with good
memories. I managed to keep
my eyes dry, but only just...
CommonRoom Updates
Page 3
Volume 2, Issue 8
6
True Tales & Toli
From The Outlaws’ Hill
The Return of Mr. Papin: Parts 3 & 4
Part 3—Boys Don’t
Hug
Form 3C could not care any
less because, to us, having Mr.
G was just slightly better than
having no teacher at all. This
feeling was very much in evidence when a few minutes later
we saw Mr. G walking back
towards the classroom from the
Ad Block, this time accompanied by the much respected
and feared Assistant Headmistress, Auntie Bea. By now our
mood had moved from the initial amusement when the cartoon was first drawn, through
trepidation when Mr. G walked
in and saw it, to absolute defiance. We had enough time to
erase the cartoon before they
got to the classroom but no
one bothered to.
Nobody in the class said anything and nothing was planned
but there was unspoken agreement that we were in this battle together. Auntie Bea walked
in and looked at the board for a
second and almost immediately
turned to the class and spoke. I
was sitting in the front row and
I am almost certain she had to
grit her own teeth to suppress
laughter when she saw the
cartoon, which is why she
turned away quickly.
―Who drew this on the board?‖
asked Auntie Bea. She was
greeted with silence and blank
faces.
―If the culprit does not own up,
or if the class does not give
him up, this Form is not going
to have any Mathematics
teacher for the rest of the
year!‖ she declared.
Still silence. Mr. G stood by
with his arms folded looking
around the classroom. Our
eyes met briefly and I stared
back at him, like a foot soldier
eying the enemy at close range
during the final hours of the
battle of Nsamankow. With no
answers coming forth from 3C,
Auntie Bea and Mr. G left the
class after a short while and we
took in our punishment.
That is how it came to be that
for the remainder of the first
term and for several weeks into
the second term, Form 3C was
without a Math teacher. Of
course we made good use of
the free periods. We played
improvised indoor games like
strokus, we went to the Music
School and messed around on
the pianos and I perfected my
technique for playing Yaa Amponsah Gyae Aware in C major, using only my dominant
right hand and one finger at a
time. Sometimes, as a last resort, we practiced Mathematics
DIY from the textbook. I do not
remember exactly how long we
were without a Teacher but we
just got used to it until one
day… Mr. Papin came back!
To this day nobody knows what
softened the hearts of the
School authorities towards the
gross insubordinates of 3C.
Maybe some powerful parents
with influence complained that
their innocent wards in 3C were
being punished collectively for
the sins of one person. Maybe
the artist gave himself up quietly, apologized and was punished. What is more likely is
that Mr. G‘s antics in other
classes where he taught eventually came to the notice of the
authorities and they realized
that he was not entirely blameless in the whole ruckus.
It was a Monday and the daily
math period came round as
usual and I looked forward to
20 minutes of self-study (Plan
A) followed by 20 minutes of
trying to work some akukor
raps on Akua, who sat immediately to my left (Plan B). Given
the way things turned out, it is
obvious in retrospect that I
executed my plans in reverse
order, going to Plan B first.
With my face turned to the left
and away from the door—the
entry door to 3C was on my
right—I did not see Mr. Papin
walk in. That something dramatic had just happened was
unmistakable, however, for
— by Raymond Akwayena
without warning I heard a liverquivering shriek from one of the
girls that, even now, is hard to
describe. It was a scream borne
not of fright, but of overwhelming joy; the primal yell of a
child or young woman‘s uncontainable surprise and irrepressible delight.
I pivoted in my chair just in
time to watch Mr. Papin walk
through the door and proceed
calmly to his desk. Joyous pandemonium! The whole class
burst into spontaneous applause; some banged on their
tables, girls exchanged hugs
and boys high-fived each other.
No matter how happy one is in
the pre-teen and early teen
years, one always remembers
to keep to accepted protocol.
Boys don‘t hug. Yet, the applause and celebration went on
for a full minute. Mr. Papin
stood at his desk quietly and
looked down towards his teaching notes. I think his glasses
got all misty but I cannot swear
to that.
I would bet however that this
was one day in Achimota School
that he will never forget: a class
of twelve to fourteen year olds
absolutely excited and overjoyed at the prospect of being
taught Math by a Peace Corps
volunteer. That alone must
have been worth the long trip to
Ghana. Most Peace Corps volunteers stay one or two years in
the country to which they go;
Mr. Papin stayed three years at
Achimota School and influenced
every single person he ever
taught. At the crossroads of our
secondary education, he made
a difference to the career path
of many people in Form 3C. The
following year, several members of Form 3C, including the
cartoonist, made it into Form
4S1, the premier science class
and in the process, sweetly
displaced some of the angels
and cherubs in 3A into the second tier 4S2.
(Part 4 begins on P7,
page center)
Mr. Papin Today
Found Alive:
Mr. Papin Speaks Out
When Raymond Akwayena
sent me the story he had
written I felt very honored,
but also very humbled. I
often tell people that joining the Peace Corps was
one of the best decisions I
have ever made – resulting
in my assignment to Ghana
and Achimota School.
When returning Peace
Corps volunteers talk about
their experiences one will
almost always hear them
say that they feel they
gained much more from
their time abroad than they
ever gave.
That was my experience as
well – among other things,
I returned with a whole new
perspective on the world.
Before I went to Ghana I
was told that Ghanaians
were a most welcoming
people. I certainly found
that to be true.
(Found Alive
continues on P7,
page top)
CommonRoom Updates
Page 4
Volume 2, Issue 8
Apagyafo Chopbox
Updates on The Foundation and Piggy (More ASF reports on P6, bottom)
Aggrey Quill Winners Announced
Last cycle’s winners of the
Aggrey Quill Essay Competition
were recognized in an awards
ceremony in early May.
The first prize winner was Jessica
N. Y. A. Donkor of Form 1 Science
and the second prize winner was
Albert Kwame Osei- Owusu of
Form 2, Gyamfi House.
Jessica received $100 and Albert
received $50 in cash.
Pictures show the students receiving
their awards from Mrs. Lydia Asare,
Head of the English Dept. while the
Headmistress looks on.
A Chat with BOF
–cont. from P2
I have participated in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon (twice; 1989
and 1998), Cambodia (1992-1993), Rwanda (1994-1995) and ECOMOG
Liberia (1997– 1998).
From 2001-2005, I was on secondment from the Ghana Army to the UN
Department of Peacekeeping operations (New York) as a Training Officer
as part of a team developing training material and delivering peacekeeping training to military and police troops preparing for peacekeeping.
Share with us some lessons or memories from your Achimota
years that inspired you to be doing what you now do for a living.
Obviously the cadet corps was my major motivation for joining the
Army. I was a cadet for the entire duration of my time at Achimota,
so joining the army was always a career choice for me.
I’d met lots of officers and
soldiers and the job always
seemed to offer the kind of
adventure I wanted in my life
at the time.
Part of the reason for joining
the army was a matter of
pure survival, however. My
old man passed away when I
was in the final year at Legon
and I had to get a job quickly.
The army was ready, and so
was I!
has not been spared. Any
effort to improve Achimota
and to provide the same opportunities to current Akoras,
is worth supporting, in my
view. I’ve always dreamed of
doing big things for Achimota.
Reality constrains me but I
think AC2010 is a worthy
cause and I’ll continue to
support it as best as I can in
the times ahead…
Why did you donate to the
campaign and do you have
a message for readers on
why it's important to support our cause?
BOF reviews the Cadet Corps Founders’ Day Parade, March 2006
It’s difficult to talk about how
I feel about Achimota in unemotional terms. I went to
Achimtota Primary as well
which puts me on the Achimota campus between 1968
and 1985! Add Legon and you
can say that I spent most of
my youth and was educated
mostly within a 5-mile radius!
That could give me a very
closed perspective on life, you
might think. But the diversity
of people, activity and opportunity at Achimota was for me
its greatest asset. Unfortunately the economy and the
educational system in Ghana
have seen major downturns
in recent times and Achimota
AKORA BEN OWUSU
- FIREMPONG:
A MAN FOR
ALL
SITUATIONS,
A REMARKABLE
AKORA.
WE SALUTE YOU !
CommonRoom Updates
Page 5
Tsoo Bwei !
Volume 2, Issue 8
-- Updates on Group Projects & Initiatives
Class of ’62 Marks Anniversary in a Big Way!!
The Class 0f 1962 marked the
50th anniversary of their entry into
Achimota School with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday March 30.
The grand occasion began with the
group‘s procession into Aggrey
Chapel behind the Staff, Headmistress and Clergy.
The sermon was witty and not too
long. Vic Dako (nee Adu-Mante)
read the first lesson and Ben
Adoo the second. The group then
posed for pictures against the backdrop of the Ad block. The event was
rounded off by a lunch reception
at the Staff Clubhouse, during
which the Class of ‘62 presented
two educational kits (courtesy of
Martha Ntiforo-Hunter) and 1000
textbooks to the School.
Pictures: (L, top to bottom): Rev. Fr. Stephen
Adjei, one of the school chaplains, delivering the
sermon; some of the class of 1962; members of
the school choir; (R, top to bottom): Akora Nana
Benyin Hutchful, president of the 1962 year
group, presenting books to the headmistress, Mrs.
Beatrice Adom while members of the school’s
administrative staff look on; some more members
of the class of 1962;
Group pic shows ’62 alumni & spouses, staff:
Front (L-R) Rev. R. Baiden; Asst. Head (1); Asst.
Head (2); N. B. Hutchful; Beatrice Adom
(Headmistress); Virginia Hesse; Fanny MancellEgala; Pat Hunter; Asst. Head (3); Rev. Fr. S.
Adjei. Middle (L-R) Mildred (Porbley) Sam;
Irismay (Amonoo-Neizer) Brown; Emelia Bentil;
Vic (Adu-Mante) Darko;Lydia (Sekyiama) Amissah; Sylvia Attoh; K. Sarpong; Stephanie BaetaAnsah; Seth Ntifo; Ben Adoo; H. Richardson
(OAA VP); Rear (L-R) H. Abutiate; M. Quartey;
H. Darkwa; S. Nuno; N. Nuno-Amarteifio; Julie
Wellington; F. Asiama; K. Ku .
Restore the Gem:
- cont. from P1
A major weakness in Ghanaian national affairs is the failure of our
governments to maintain and upgrade facilities at our national institutions in the face of an ever-teeming population. A number of
institutions of great renown are now degraded and in disrepair,
owing to governmental neglect and lack of foresight.
In 1996/97 when I was on a visit to Ghana, I observed with disappointment that Achimota School could not even make it to the
quarterfinals in the national secondary schools science competition
in their zone. Of course, I was happy that Prempeh College, my
alma mater, won the prize. But I was expecting Achimota School to
do much better than it did.
It‘s about time this unfortunate trend got reversed not only for
Achimota School but also for educational standards in Ghana in
general. It is time that the noble traditions upon which Achimota
School was founded, were revived and upheld. Governor Guggisberg, Rev. Fraser and Dr. Kwegir Aggrey (may they rest in peace)
did well in giving us such a high-class secondary school. It is important that the traditions be maintained.
The efforts of some Achimota School alumni (Akoras) in setting up
a Foundation with the primary purpose of addressing these issues
are very laudable. In this technological age the need for adequate
provision of personal computers (PCs), laptops and other modern
technological equipment for the benefit of the students, cannot be
over-emphasised.
(cont. on P7, bottom)
Page 6
CommonRoom Updates
Volume 2, Issue 8
Retirement – from P1
Two other retiring teachers were
also honored. Mrs. Mercy SarfoAntwi, Head of the Social Studies
Department, who retired in April
after 28 years and Mr. Erasmus
Aryee, Head of the Agric Science Department.
Mrs. Sarfo-Antwi was a dedicated senior staff member and the patroness of
the Scripture Union. She wrote a book
on social studies which most of the
students use as a supplement to the
government-approved textbook.
Mr. Aryee, who retired in January
2008, was also a senior member of
staff dedicated to his duties.
They all received awards from the
school, staff and students, as well as
citations and certificates of merit from
the school. The School Board also presented special awards to Mrs. Mensah
and Mr. Ohene-Kena.
Pictures show from top L: Mrs. Mensah receiving award;
bottom L: Mr. Aryee, Mrs. Sarfo
Sarfo--Antwi, Mr. Ohene
Ohene--Kena
and Mrs. Mensah; top R: Mr. Ohene
Ohene--Kena receiving
award; bottom R: Mrs. Sarfo
Sarfo--Antwi receiving award.
ASF Begins Networking The AdBlock
by Mina Darfoor (nee Otoo)
I am not quite certain that when the
ground was broken for the first structure
that was to become Achimota School,
there was a vision for the 21st century… or
maybe there was? Either way, with the
increasing importance of the Internet in
Schools and the ICT Program, the Achimota School Foundation (ASF) thought it
prudent as part of a total Integrated System Solution (ISS) to introduce a Local
Area Network (LAN) with internet access
to unlock the power of computers to Achimota School.
After several years of discussion, the ASF has
lift off with ISS Phase II, a gateway to allow
for better communication, direct interaction
with management data, and a more streamlined administration. Earlier in 2007, when
we started developing a plan to network the
Ad Block, we learned that the existing network in the Student Computer Lab (formerly
the Staff Common Room) could not connect
to the Ad Block due to bandwidth. We therefore completed Phase I with a wireless solution, installing a router and acquiring Internet
access for the Head‘s office.
Although the networking of the Staff Common
Room was structured as Phase III of the ISS,
we saw the urgent need to merge that action
item into Phase II to provide the much needed
incentive and teaching resource in preparing
examination questions, class and prep exercises, term reports, publishing exam results,
(Atiko comes to mind) via a School intranet,
and so much more.
In consistency with our Procurement policy,
we reviewed three bids for this project and
after three months of rigorously evaluating
proposals, the contract was awarded to ACCU
Computers whose list of accomplishments includes building the Computer Lab for Ashesi
University. ACCU Computers, a cable and
network outfit, developed the technical design
for wiring the entire Achimota School Administration Block.
The complexity of such a project at Achimota,
with its Ad Block two stories tall and almost a
block long, dating from the early 1900s, which
boasts structures with no suspended ceilings and,
in some instances, 13-inch solid concrete walls,
limited access to the interior of the buildings.
ACCU Computers therefore decided
to surface- mount all the cables in protective
plastic channels called raceways, with several data drops for each office, including the
staff common room. We thought of how
many computers would be needed for each
office, the flow of each office and agreed not
to skimp on the number of data ports, anticipating future network needs. The net result
was a terrific configuration that met everyone‘s approval. ACCU Computers laid out
the exact cable path from the wiring closet
to the various offices- accountant, assistant
heads, the general office, office of the Senior
Housemaster and Housemistress, and the
staff common room.
With plenty of materials in hand, the technicians went to work. As of going to press,
they are on schedule to complete ISS Phase
II – networking the Achimota School Administration Block. By the end of June 2008, we
would essentially have connected the School
Administration and staff to the future,
strengthening our alma mater‘s bonds with
the global community that is trying to help
the School. We should all take pride in this
accomplishment knowing that your generous
contributions continue to make our mission
possible as we report another success story,
bringing the vision of the Founders into the
21st century. Aggrey, Fraser, Guggisberg,
― Adee yi a oayε ama oman yi,
Firama, firama dom bo wo din,
ma wo akye, da wo ase, oo,
mmo mmo mmo mmo,
Yεre bo wo osee, momomo!‖
(from The Founders’ Praise Song by Dr. Ephraim Amu)
Sincere appreciation to our Advisory Group - Akoras
George Kingsley-Agbley ’75, Fred Engmann ’75,
Charles Narnor ’76 & Beatrice Adom ‘75.
CommonRoom Updates
Page 7
Found Alive
— cont from P3.
I was also pleased to find that a large number of my students were
eager to learn. At a young age many already knew the value of a
good education and that, of course, is the key to opening many
doors.
It is now heartwarming to hear that former students, and other
Akoras, have attained a measure of success and are doing good
work, including establishing the Achimota School Foundation.
Your goal is a worthy one and I wish you all the best as you continue in your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Michael Papin, May, 2008.
California. USA
P.S. I will leave the CIA matter untouched (as any good spy would
also do).
Mr. Papin sharing a moment with some
students.
Now, Akora Ray concludes his rather riveting
recollections of his third year at Achimota
School in Part 4 of the series.
The Return of Mr. Papin: Part 4
— The CIA in Ghana
We all like a good conspiracy theory and in those days it was often
said in low tones that many of the Peace Corps volunteers were, in
actual fact, intelligence agents for the CIA sent to Ghana as spies.
My teacher in Form 3 was certainly an intelligence agent; he
imparted math intelligence to us. If Mr. Papin was indeed a CIA
spy, then I suggest we ask the CIA to send five spies of his kind
every year to Achimota School.
In my opinion the American Peace Corps program is one of the
greatest triumphs of US foreign policy. In the battle for the
supremacy of ideology and in the effort to win hearts and minds,
American volunteers serving as unrecognized heroes all over the
world have done infinitely more than spectacular military force
could ever achieve.
We are sometimes accused of copying foreign ideas and culture
blindly without researching if something we see working in one
place is really applicable to our own situation. If there is something
that we can copy without fear of failure, however, it is the spirit of
volunteerism and the related virtue of philanthropy that are taken
for-granted in American society.
Volume 2, Issue 8
Above: Mr. Papin with Lugard House boys, 1978.
Left: Mr. Papin travelling in Ghana, 1978.
It is not hard to see why; on University application forms, you will
find in addition to academic credentials, sections that ask applicants about students‘ volunteer experience—an important consideration for admissions boards in determining who to enroll in their
institutions
.
Similarly, I see the Achimota School Foundation (ASF) as evolving
eventually into a shining light of selfless giving and a vehicle for
infusing our society with this spirit. The Ford Foundation, even
though established initially with the profits of the Ford Motor Company, does not really concern itself with the present fortunes of the
loss-making carmaker in Detroit. Rather, its legacy stands in many
useful grants given to projects in the USA and all over the world,
projects often not even remotely related to car issues. On the campus of the University of Ghana, the Ford Foundation flats were built
more than 30 years ago and remain standing today as a monument to the legacy of Henry Ford.
I look forward to the completion of the first major project in Achimota School by the ASF but what I really want to see one day is a
piece (or pieces) of equipment, at the Navrongo Secondary School
or at my favorite Royal New Drobo Secondary School with the insignia and logo ―Donated by the Achimota School Foundation.‖
There are US laws that provide tax incentives and rewards to
individuals and corporations for charity and philanthropy. There are
also non-monetary rewards. For example, American High School
students often volunteer as helpers in local hospitals at weekends.
When this happens, we would be fulfilling another facet of the
charge to be ―living waters to a thirsty land.” And the seeds
planted in our hearts in Achimota and watered by, among many
others, a Peace Corps volunteer Math teacher not so long ago, will
continue to grow and to see an increase in all parts of the now
almost-global village.
Restore the Gem: - cont. from P5
Long live Achimota School, the educator and nurturer of illustrious Ghanaians, other Africans and a number of Europeans too.
The Government of Ghana also has a role to play in this exercise by way
of increasing the capital expenditure for Achimota School (and of course,
the other secondary schools in Ghana) as well as the promulgation of a
good and progressive educational policy.
It would be great if all Akoras and friends of Achimota School could contribute to the Achimota School Foundation, whatever the amount, to
help restore the glitter of the gem of Ghana secondary school educational institutions, if not of Africa.
Kwaku Amoo-Appau holds a Master’s Degree in Demography from the Australian
National University. In 1986, he returned to Ghana to work with the Ghana Statistical
Service (GSS) and was Deputy National Co-ordinator of a major national household
survey called The ‘Ghana Living Standards Survey’ (GLSS) that canvassed a sample of
over 3200 households drawn from over all the country. After four years with the GSS, he
returned to Australia in 1990. Kwaku has been working with the Australian Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Cambrerra for the past nine years, and has
lived in Australia for 17 years.
Editor‘s Notes
Credits:
We hope you continue to enjoy receiving this newsletter.
We welcome your comments and contributions.
Your Submissions Needed for the
following sections:
Tso Bwei! – Updates on projects &
Masthead picture of students, 1962
pictures: courtesy 1962 yeargroup
Send your contributions, comments,
questions and rejoinders to:
Retirement & Aggrey Quill pictures:
courtesy Mrs. Adom
[email protected]
All submitted material must contain the
following information:
Mr. Papin Pictures:
courtesy Akora Michael Papin
Your name & maiden name (if relevant)
initiatives
Boarding House
True Tales & Toli – Your recollec-
Adblock networking pictures:
courtesy Akora Patrick Nutor
O-level year group, (if an Akora)
tions of school days
Voices – Snippets of your feedback
& comments
Roll Call – Announcements of
births, marriages, obits
Living Waters – Profiles of Akoras
who are changing our world
All submissions and material featured are
copyrighted works of their owners or
Achimota School Foundation dba AC2010,
and may not be disseminated without
prior written consent from AC2010 or the
owners of those works.
AC2010 is not responsible for your interpretation of any ideas or suggestions contained in any of its publications. We reserve the right to edit any submitted material for clarity, length and decency.
Living Waters pictures: courtesy Akora
Ben Owusu-Firempong
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Editor in Chief: Maria Kwami Gwira
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