David Allan Paintsil
28 July 2008
Cape Coast — The Headmaster of Ghana National College, Koomson Barnes, on Saturday expressed the school's appreciation, for a number of projects President John Agyekum Kufuor's administration had undertaken for the school, since he assumed office in January 2001.
Speaking at the 60th anniversary ceremony, held on the precincts of the school, Mr. Barnes praised President Kufuor for the able manner in which he responded to their water problem confronting the school, by making available overhead water tanks and the the replacement of obsolete underground water pipes.
The Headmaster also mentioned the construction of a 900-seater capacity library, and the donation of a 65-seater bus to the school, by President Kufuor, as gestures that the school would forever be proud of.
He, therefore, appealed to government to provide more classrooms, to accommodate the growing student population.
Touching on the history of the school, Mr. Barnes said the school was established by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in July 1948, to harbour students and teachers, who were dismissed by the colonial Headmaster of St Augustine's College and Mfantsipim School, for embarking on a demonstration in support of Nkrumah's quest, to free the then Gold Coast from colonial rule.
Speaking at the same function, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, who used the analogy of a raw diamond, and asked the students to show obedience to the teachers, to enable them (teachers) polish them to meet the challenges posed by globalisation.
The Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Bannerman Mensah, noted that the school was among the highly endowed ones in the country, and asked the students to take advantage of the facilities, to attain greater heights.
Mr. Mensah made a passionate appeal to the government, to improve the salary and conditions of service of teachers, to enable them give off their best.
An alumnus of the school, Dr. David Taylor, of Taylor and Taylor Company Limited, donated GH¢10,000 as seed money for the construction of a Science Laboratory, in honour of Prof. Francis Kofi Apanim Allotey, a renowned scientist, and an old student of the school, who was among the students Dr Nkrumah enrolled for the establishment of the school.
In a speech read for him, President Kufuor, said the government was committed to improving the conditions of service of teachers, and that his administration would soon upgrade the Teacher Training colleges to diploma status.
President Kufuor also urged students, who had attained 18 years, to register when the voters' registration opens, to enable them exercise their franchise in the December 7 elections.
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