1968 Old Achimotans group donate Parade Grounds and Armory to school
The 1968 Year Group of the Old Achimotan Association (OAA), on Saturday climaxed their 50th Anniversary of Graduation at the School’s 91st Founders Day celebrations with a call on past and present students to build on the ideals, principles and visions of the founders to maintain the school's enviable status.
The OAA 1968 Year Group as part of their 50th Anniversary of Graduation donated an expanded Cadet Corps Parade Grounds and a renovated Armory Building to the school.
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The gesture was in fulfilment of the responsibility of all old students to return to the school after a period to contribute to a legacy project.
Lt. General Obed Akwa, Chief of Defence Staff, was the Reviewing Officer of the Cadet Parade who also unveiled the plaque in commemoration of the project handover to Achimota School.
The President of the 1968 Year Group of the Old Achimotan Association, Ms Gwendolina Sam said, “It is worth noting that the school’s purpose-built cadet square, constructed in the 1960s, when the student population was around 800, has not seen any significant renovation or expansion since”.
This she said had compelled the 1968 Year Group to initiate and carry out the project.
“It’s been 50 years since we left the arms of our mother, Achimota School, and today we celebrate hereby giving back to the School the Expanded Cadet Corps Parade Grounds and renovated Armoury Building that will accommodate at least four contingents of student cadets”, she said.
She said the association had extended the parade grounds, built a new spectator stand, tarred the road alongside it, to give it a complete facelift.
“For the Armoury Building, we have reroofed it, added a bigger classroom upstairs, fitted it with a set of 30 modern desks, remodelled the staircases, tiled, rewired and indeed refurbished the entire building. We have provided new toilets (male and female) with an overhead water tank. We have additionally provided100 brand new cadet uniforms and caps, as well as 100 wooden replica guns”, she added.
Special Guest-Speaker HE Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission also a member of the 1968 year group in an address at the Grand Durbar noted that the boarding school system was designed to build the character of students and must be sustained.
He said the idea of both males and females studying together was an important culture that must be encouraged to empower and advance the education of women.
He said, “those of us who had the privilege to school with ladies have grown to know the value and joy of studying together with them”.
At the Thanksgiving Service to climax, the celebration, Reverend Victor Okoe Abbey, Acting Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana called on parents and guardians to cooperate with school authorities for the requisite discipline to be imparted on their children.
He noted that it is important that discipline is instilled in children at a very young age.
The Headmistress of Achimota School, Dr Joyce Addo was grateful for the donation and encouraged other year groups to emulate the gesture of the 1968 Year Group to contribute to the development of the school.
The Founders Day celebration is observed annually to remind both past and present students, teachers and parents of the ideals of the founders and the need to work hard to develop the school.