MFANTSIPIM SCHOOL (2 TIMES NSMQ WINNERS)
Mfantsipim is an all-boys boarding secondary school in Cape Coast, Ghana, established by the Methodist Church in 1876 to foster intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth on the then Gold Coast. Its founding name was Wesleyan High School and the first headmaster was James Picot, a French scholar, who was only 18 years old on his appointment.
The school was established to train teachers and began with 17 pupils. It was originally planned to be sited in Accra because the British Government had, by 1870, decided to move the capital of the Gold Coast from Cape Coast to Accra. However, local agitation and the urgent need to put the idea into practice after eleven years of debate pressurised the government to allow the school to begin functioning, but on the understanding that it would later be moved to Accra, though no such move ever took place.
In 1905 a graduate of the school, John Mensah Sarbah, founded a rival school named Mfantsipim; the name derives from “Mfantsefo-apem”, literally meaning “thousands of Fantes” but actually meaning “the gathering of hosts of scholars for change” originally by the Fantes. In July of the same year, the two schools were merged under the control of the Methodist Church, keeping the name Mfantsipim
Notable alumni include The Late Kofi Annan (Former UN Secretary-General), Tsatsu Tsikata (Renowned Lawyer), and Bice Osei Kuffuor (Obuor)
POPE JOHN SENIOR HIGH AND MINOR SEMINARY (1 TIME NSMQ WINNER)
On 21 January 1958, St. John’s Seminary and College officially opened with 45 students; 14 seminarians and 31-day students in two forms. One Ghanaian lay teacher, Mr Paul Ohene-Boakye was employed to help the 3 SVD priests who had been appointed by the Bishop to teach and instruct the young boys in their academic work, moral and religious lives.
On 1 September 1968, St. John Seminary and College was absorbed into the Ghana Education Service of the Ministry of Education (Ghana) as a government-assisted secondary school. The name of the school was changed to Pope John Secondary School and Junior Seminary in order to avoid confusion with other Catholic Schools in Ghana already designated “St. John”. The name Pope John was chosen in memory of Pope John XXIII who had just convened the Second Vatican Council, and to keep the identity and purpose of the former St. John’s College.
Notable alumni include Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Pastor Prof. William Otoo Ellis (Former Vice-Chancellor of KNUST and Now Pastor of The Church of Pentecost), and Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (Minister for Information)
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1 TIME NSMQ WINNER)
ST. Thomas Aquinas School was established mainly to provide education for boys of the Accra Archdiocese whose parents could not afford the high cost then of sending their male children to boarding schools. It was among five secondary schools established in 1952.
The original staff comprised three Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Reverend Fathers, Father Alphonse Elsbernd (the first headmaster), Father George Wilson and Father Fisher, Mr Augustine Adu and Paul Baddoo. In March 1954, Father Clement Hotze took over the reins of administration of the school as Headmaster; with a student population of 130 and staff of 8.
Hotze knew that the proper development of the school depended on two main projects, Assistance from the Government and recognition from the West African Examinations Council. He was never tired working on these projects, until his efforts were rewarded in January and April 1957
The school was recognized as government-assisted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to present candidates for the Ordinary Level Examination in 1957 when Rev. Father John McKillip became headmaster. In November 1955, Fr Hotze presented the first candidate for the School Certificate Examination and had a 100% pass rate; one candidate was presented and one candidate passed, and this was a feather in his cap.
In September 1963, the school relocated to its present permanent site at Cantonment Street, Osu. The school is situated opposite the European Union offices and the Civil Service Training School, laying between the Cantonment Police Station to its south and The Embassy of Togo to its north, with close proximity to the prime area of the commercial and administrative hub of Osu’s Oxford Street.
Notable alumni include Prof. John Owusu Gyapong (Vice-Chancellor, UHAS), Yaw Amankwaa Mireku (Former Captain, Hearts of Oak), and Elikem Kumordzie (Actor and Fashion Designer).
ADISADEL COLLEGE (1 TIME NSMQ WINNER)
Adisadel College is named after what used to be a small village on the outskirts of the Cape Coast township – Adisadel Village. In recent times, the village has expanded considerably and gradually merged imperceptibly with the main township. It is now a sprawling urban suburb with vibrant commercial activities.
Adisco and Adisadel Village share direct boundaries, with the former occupying the hilly landscape and part of the adjoining low-lying area. It is commonly accepted to use the name of the village (Adisadel) in reference to the school.
Adisadel was established in 1910 in a building at Topp Yard, near Christ Church School which is within the vicinity of Cape Coast Castle. It began with 29 boys, but by 1935, it had expanded to accommodate about 200 pupils.
Adisadel College is the second-oldest secondary school in Ghana after Mfantsipim School, an arch-rival which was established by the Methodist Church in 1876.
Notable alumni include Otumfuor Opoku Ware II (15th Asantehene), Kennedy Agyapong (MP for Assin Central), and Dr Afari Gyan (Former EC Chair).
Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com