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Achimota School celebrates 97th Anniversary, unveils Centenary Logo
Achimota School, one of Ghana’s most prominent schools, celebrated its 97th birthday with great fervour and unveiled its centenary logo to formally start the countdown to the significant milestone.
The event, held on Saturday, January 27, 2024 to commemorate the day Achimota was established, saw a convergence of current students, management and staff as well as Akoras (alumni of the school) at the forecourt of the administration block, setting the stage for a three-year build up leading to the monumental 100th-year milestone in 2027.
The celebration commenced with a spirited 6km health walk, organized as part of the Old Achimotan Association (OAA)’s commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle. The walk aimed to foster unity and wellbeing among the Akora community, many of whom regularly participate in fitness activities at the school.
During the festivities, the President of the Old Achimotan Association, Akora Joel Nettey, unveiled the theme for the centenary celebrations –
“Achimota@100: Celebrating the Vision; Honouring the Legacy; Inspiring the Future.” He explained that the theme encapsulates three integral aspects: celebrating the founders’ vision, honouring the rich legacy of the institution, and inspiring future generations to uphold the school’s values and it’s unique focus on ensuring well-rounded humans by educating “the head, the heart and the hand.”
Addressing the gathering, the Headmaster of Achimota School, Mr. Ebenezer Acquaah, expressed gratitude for the support received from the Akora community, emphasizing that Achimota’s success can be attributed in great part to the continued involvement and contributions of its alumni.
“Over the years, Achimota School has strived to achieve what the founders envisioned for the school. The idea to celebrate Achimota School’s birthday each year with a flag-raising ceremony started last year, and I believe it’s a good rallying point and occasion to remind all about the ideals on which Achimota was founded,” he said.
He also thanked Akoras and highlighted their vital role in supporting the school through various projects and renovations.
The Chairman of the Achimota@100 Planning Committee, Akora Harold Esseku, outlined the plans and programmes leading up to the centenary celebration.
Events such as the Achimota Speaks, Homecoming, Achimota Subjugates in Worship, Records Nights, Choral Fests, Blood Donation Campaigns as well as a drive from “Gambaga to Accra” are among the flagship events planned to commemorate this historic occasion.
The Executive Secretary of the Old Achimota Association, Akora Eunice Quarcoopome, called on Akoras worldwide to look forward to a momentous centenary celebration in 2027. She assured Akoras that the Centenary Committee and the OAA Secretariat would coordinate all events throughout the lead-up year, ensuring a memorable and impactful celebration for all Akoras, their families, and friends.
The celebration climaxed with the symbolic raising of the Ghana and Achimota flags, symbolizing unity and pride in the school’s heritage.
The highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the centenary logo, a visual representation of the school’s 100-year journey and the collective achievements of its students, staff, and alumni.
Excitement, affection for, and a sense of duty to preserve the history and build on the legacy of Achimota School will be exhibited during the journey leading up to the hundredth anniversary.
The Achimota community is preparing for the historic milestone in 2027, and the next three years are expected to be a time of reflection, celebration, inspiration and giving back to the school.
The countdown to the Achimota Centenary has indeed begun.
News
ICU holds Greater Accra regional youth, women confab
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) on Friday held the Greater Accra Regional Youth and Women’s Conference to build a strategic network.
The conference which brought together representatives of the Union was a great opportunity for ICU Ghana to make its voice heard on policies that were crucial to the development of the country.
The platform was also used to elect new officers for the Greater Accra Branch of The ICU Ghana to mark its 12th National Quadrennial Conference in August.
The General Secretary of the ICU Ghana, Mr Morgan Ayawine, called on government to assist the two state-owned media organisation, New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Spectator and The Ghanaian Times newspapers and Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL).
“The two state-owned media played major roles in disseminating government policies, educating, entertaining and informing the public of the happenings in the world,” he added.
He said ICU Ghana would also raise issues about the recapitalisation of the two organisations with the sector minister.
Mr Ayawine disclosed that the ADB and NIB banks were also going through the same ordeal but government intervened and urged government to do same for the two state-owned organisations.
He stressed on equal partnership between unions and employers, saying the capital and labour were crucial to create, produce and generate funds.
The General Secretary advised the various branches of the association to suggest solutions on socio-economic issues such as employment for discussions.
The newly-elected members who were sworn in by the General Secretary, Mr Morgan Ayawine includes Belinda Cochrane-chairman, Eric Ekow Turkson-Vice chairman and Moses Kwaku Otoo-Secretary.
Others were Charles Akomea-Financial Secretary, Charles Biden- Executive Member, Diana Asiedu-Women’s Representative and Samuella A. Brago-Youth Representative.
The chairman of the Greater Accra Branch of the ICU Ghana, Belinda Cochrane thanked the leadership for contributing to the success of the union.
She added that the conference was to prepare for the 12th National Quadrennial Conference and also to take stock of the activities of the branch for the past years and discuss issues on the ground.
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Minister for Health holds emergency stakeholder meeting with principals and directors of Health Training Institutions
In a proactive move to strengthen collaboration within the health sector, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has convened an emergency meeting with the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI) across the country.
The meeting aimed to deepen engagement between the Ministry and key stakeholders responsible for training health professionals.
The session provided a platform for open dialogue on the challenges facing health training institutions, the quality of healthcare education, and the strategic direction of human resource development in the sector.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mr. Akandoh emphasized the importance of fostering strong and cordial relationships between the Ministry and training institutions to ensure a well-coordinated and responsive healthcare system.
He indicated that the purpose of the meeting was also to collaborate, discuss concerns, and find practical solutions that would benefit not only the institutions but also the Ghanaian people who rely on the healthcare system.
The President of COHHETI, Madam Margaret Mary Alacoque welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. She raised concerns about transportation challenges, accreditation delays, staffing shortages, and the general conditions and status of service for Health Training Institutions (HTIs). She also shared innovative strategies that some institutions have adopted to improve training outcomes.
In his response, Mr.Akandoh assured participants of the Ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns and announced plans to enhance coordination and follow-ups.
He added that the Ministry would soon introduce policy reforms aimed at improving standards in health education and ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
These reforms include reducing the cost of admission, implementing automatic code generation for applicants, and clarifying leadership roles within HTIs.
