Mfantsipim School to start annual lectures
Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast is to institute an annual “Dwen Hwe Kan Lectures” to provide a platform for renowned past students of the school to discuss topical national and global issues on leadership.
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The Headmaster of the school, Mr J. K. A. Simpson, who disclosed this at the unveiling of a new school flag, said the platform would also be used to discuss patriotism, governance, development, nationalism, service, loyalty and allegiance within the context of the values of the school.
He said the hoisting of the new flag that embodies the virtues, heritage, traditions and values of Mfantsipim, also marked another historic occasion in the life of the school.
He said while exploring ways of celebrating the annual Flag event, the nation and humanity, the story of Mfantsipim’s Faithful Eight who had no teachers and a headmaster but came together to help train themselves until Rev Balmer arrived from Sierra Leone to head them should be an important lesson for all, both in school and out of school.
The Special Guest of Honour, Vice-Admiral Mathew Quashie, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces, in his keynote address on the theme, “Energising Mfantsipim’s Esprit De Corps for Contemporary Challenges“, said the purpose of mounting or carrying a flag had been to identify a leader or group with which one was associated or loyal to.
“One fundamental leadership principle every student is liable to pick up at Mfantsipim,” he said, “is the need to lead by example and set the standard for one’s peers and contemporaries.”
“We may find the best example of this in the military, where, if an officer’s men are living in harsh conditions, he does not resort to privileged conditions or absolve himself from the hardships being endured by his men,” he said
A flag, Vice-Admiral Quashie, who is a member of the MOBA 1970 Year Group, said represented not just a unit but also its history and its future.
He urged current students and old boys of Mfantsipim to always press on, regardless of the difficulties.
Vice-Admiral Quashie said they should all past and present not to let the spirit of Mfantsipim elude them, imploring them to go forth and sell the Mfantsipim brand.
The Omanhen of the Essikado Traditional Area and member of the MOBA 1969 Year Group, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, who chaired the ceremony, reminded all to be mindful of the exploits and philosophy of the founding fathers, the school motto and meaning of the logo upon which the school was established to shape their own lives and destinies.
He added that each student and old boy’s life should always be in partial fulfilment of the Mfantsipim creed and ethos, saying the rationale behind the design and the colours of the flag should be a constant reminder not only to the school but the nation to drive its national development agenda.
