Prempeh College honours Kufuor, Dr Prempeh, Arthur
Prempeh College in Kumasi has honoured two of its former students and a former headmaster for their illustrious contributions to the development of the country.
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They are former President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who were honoured for contributions made towards the development of the school.
While the 1,500-seater assembly hall of the college was named after the former President and known as the J. A. Kufuor Auditorium, a dormitory, formerly called House 11, is now to be known as the Mathew Opoku Prempeh House.
Arthur Clark, the former headmaster of the college from 1961 to 1963, also has a hall of residence, House 10, named after him known as the Arthur Clark House.
A grand durbar was held at the school’s premises last Saturday to celebrate them for their astute contributions to the development of the college.
Present at the ceremony were a brother of the former President, Dr Addo Kufuor, who is also a former Defence Minister; the Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Dr William Amankwa Appiah, old students, some family members and friends of the three old students.
Former President Kufuor (seated) applauding after unveiling a plaque to reveal the new J.A. Kufuor Auditorium. Looking on include Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh (right), Energy Minister
Exemplary lives
In a keynote address, the Chairman of the outgoing Interim Management Committee of the college, Nana Dr Awuah Abedimisa II, said it took the IMC several deliberations to arrive at the personalities to be selected for the honour.
“You have lived exemplary lives. Your contributions to the college is unparalleled,” he told the three distinguished old students, adding that the school would forever be proud of them.
Nana Abedimisa extended the IMC’s gratitude for the exceptional leadership qualities and unwavering support of former President Kufuor.
He acknowledged that the two-year tenure of Dr Prempeh as Education Minister contributed to the enormous infrastructural projects in the school.
“The JA Kufuor Auditorium will serve as a vibrant hub of creativity, where ideas will be exchanged, performances will dazzle, and where the collective voice of the Prempeh College will echo with pride and unity,” the Konongohene stressed.
“We are building not just physical structures, but also the foundation for future generation of leaders, thinkers and change makers,” Nana Abedimisa emphasised.
Acknowledgement
President Kufuor, in a short remark, commended his alma mater for taking notice of his contribution and that of the other celebrants towards the development of the college.
He advised the students to see the honour done them as a foundation stone for them to build on and raise the flag of the college higher.
For his part, the Director of Urban Roads of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Nana Poku Agyemang, donated GH¢10,000 cash as seed money to help maintain the JA Kufuor Auditorium.
For his part, Dr Prempeh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, expressed gladness for being honoured alongside his paternal grand uncle and mentor, former President Kufuor.
“I want to reiterate my firm belief in making an impact in the society I find myself. After all, that is the essence of leadership; to be able to positively affect lives,” he added.
The Manhyia South MP, who was the Minister of Education, added that everything he had done and continue to do for Prempeh College “is also in honour of my grandfather, Otumfuo Nana Sir Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II, whose true intention for establishing the college was to promote education not only in the Asante Kingdom but in the entire country. I cannot depart from this sacred duty,” Dr Prempeh stressed.
