Posted by · Examples from Accra Girls Senior High School (AGOSA)
Show me the head of any institution, and I’d show you how that particular organization fared. That note was exemplified during Accra Girls’ Senior High School’s celebration of its 57th Speech and Prize Giving Day (28th October, 2017) under the management of the energetic headmistress Mrs Joyce Acolatse.
It was an honour for me to have chaired the event under the theme “Promoting Holistic and Excellent Education for Nation Building”, in the company of Dr. Yaw Adutwum – Deputy Minister of Education, Prof. Akua Kuenyehia – retired Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Mrs Awurabena Okrah – Board Chairperson, Hon. Enyonam Baku (Agosa ‘77), and others.
The Agosans
Mrs Acolatse noted that since she assumed office as headmistress in September 2016 Year groups have come in their numbers to discuss and embark on projects to give the school a facelift. The determined ladies that they are, most of these projects have taken off, some completed and others are in various stages of completion. A couple of them have been completed and duly handed over to the school.
In commending this high sense of solidarity by AGOSANS both home and abroad for their tremendous support, she said, “We all realize that, in our attempt to develop the School in these times of dwindling resources, we need to collaborate and synchronize our energies as stakeholders. It is in this direction that I would want to extend a warm invitation to all the year groups to mobilize themselves to support the School.”
The headmistress congratulated Bridget Otiwaa Eduah and Caroline Briandt, class of 2017, for scoring all A1’s in every subject they wrote on the WASSCE.
Celebrant Agosa Projects
The 50 years group, Agosa 1967, undertook and completed a Water Project for the Junior Classroom Block, including the supply of 4 Large Water Tanks and Pumps to pump water from the existing boreholes.
The 40 years group, Agosa 1977, completed indoor public address (PA) system with monitors, and catered a buffet for about 400 guests.
The 30 years group, Agosa 1987, and Agosa UK made a donation of paints for the classroom block (Pink House), and paid for full color newspaper adverts for the Speech Day celebration.
The 20 years group, Agosa 1997, refurbished the Computer Lab and donated 11 system units, 20 wire adaptors, 20 keyboards, 20 mouse, 2 system unit motherboard.
The 10 years group, Agosa 2007, refurbished the Assembly Hall washrooms and the sewage system, and provided water pumps. In 2016, the 1966 and 1996 year groups donated to the school 500 and 200 chairs respectfully.
The PTA’s efforts
The PTA chairman, Mr Emmanuel Thompson, indicated that the PTA had constructed “a modern Canteen for the Students and Teachers at a cost of over One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GhS150,000) which was handed over in July 2017. We have also purchased for the School a Risograph Machine for printing examination papers. It is our vision to expand the Dining Hall and the Assembly Hall and improve security in the School. This will aid in expanded admissions and increase the number on enrollment when the Dormitory under construction is completed and becomes functional.”
He said, “Currently plans are far advanced to reconstruct the front fence wall of the school to a height of a minimum of 120 inches which is equivalent to the height of 12 blocks work all round. This will go a long way to improve security of the school since on a few occasions there have been intruders over the fence wall to disturb the peace.
“As part of the fence wall a modern Security Post, a visitor’s waiting room, a PTA office, washrooms and an Office for the AGOSA will be provided at the main gate. Going forward the Old Girls are going to take over some of the things we are currently doing for the school so there is the need to give them a place to co-ordinate their affairs to smoothly take over with the introduction of the free SHS.”
The Board, MPs and Puma
The board chairperson, Mrs Okrah (Agosa 1966), noted that, “With the implementation of the Free SHS system, the time has come for the private sector, particularly, our alumni [to] start asking the question: What more can I do for my alma mater … This is the time for Old Girls to stand up and be counted for adding value to what our forebears envisioned [to] make the school environment conducive to effective learning.”
The Hon Jaja, MP for Ayawaso West, helped grade a site after which “Right to Play Ghana”, “Puma” and “Daily Paper” (both of Germany) helped to construct the first ever football pitch to celebrate Puma’s 20th anniversary promoting sports. The MP for Ayawaso East, the Hon Mac Naza, donated paint for the fence wall.
Solar power
A 5KW Grid Tie Solar System was switched on November 1, 2017, by the Mayor of Accra, Hon Mohammed Adjei Sowah. It was a EU/AMA project to help the school reduce the energy bills. The solar system, fixed in the kitchen area, will generate between 20–25 units of electricity daily, with the excess fed into the national grid and credited to the school.
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