By Issah Mohammed
Accra, Oct. 1, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has donated a new pick-up truck to his alma mater, Kinbu Senior High Technical School (SHTS), during a ceremony in Accra.
The gesture marks the President’s contribution to the school as it celebrates its 150th anniversary.
During a brief address at the event, which coincided with the school’s Speech and Prize-Giving Day, the President also pledged to provide a new school bus and financial support to ensure the successful celebration of the anniversary.
He reminisced about his time as a student, recalling how his father would bring him to the school, which was originally called the Rowe-Road School and later became Kinbu Experimental Junior Secondary School in 1976.
The anniversary is on the theme “Equipping our Future Leaders with 21st Century Skills – The Role of the Stakeholders.”
The school was later upgraded to a Senior Secondary School status in 1990, and thus became Kinbu Secondary Technical School.
The President expressed his deep affection for the school, stating that it played a significant role in shaping his early education.
“Kinbu SHTS has not only shaped my life but has helped countless people who passed through the school. It is the discipline, hard work and critical thinking at the school that shaped me into who I am today.
“My own educational journey began in Kinbu. That is why I made sure I rushed back to Ghana after addressing the United Nations General Assembly some few hours ago, to attend this important and memorable milestone achieved by this noble school of ours,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo assured the school of his continued support beyond his presidency.
Mr. John Mensah Anang, the Board Chairman, emphasized that the 150th anniversary celebration is not only a commemoration of history but also a testament to the school’s resilience and adaptability in addressing the educational needs of the community.
He noted that the school’s mission was centered on equipping students with 21st-century skills, including innovation, critical thinking, and environmental awareness, to help them navigate present complexities.
Mrs. Sylvia M. Letcher-Teye, the Headmistress of Kinbu SHTS, appealed to the President to adopt Kinbu Senior High Technical School and make it a model institution.
She requested the construction of dormitory blocks named after him to provide housing for students from distant areas like Dodowa, Kasoa, Nsawam, Teiman, and other regions, to improve learning outcomes.
Mrs. Letcher-Teye urgently requested the return of school land occupied by transport operators, vendors, and other entities for the construction of necessary facilities like an assembly hall, laboratories, and an astro turf for sporting activities.
Mr. Joseph Oddei, President of Kinbu Old Students Association (KOSA), urged all old students to contribute to the school’s development.
The School Prefect, Master Dogba Joseph Kwabena, highlighted areas needing improvement despite the school’s successes.
He mentioned issues such as inadequate furniture, insufficient classroom blocks, unappealing washrooms, an overcrowded ICT Lab, and a dilapidated canteen.
He appealed to the President, parents, and other stakeholders to find practical solutions to those problems to help the school achieve greater successes.
Present at the event were the Director of Education, Dr. Eric Nkansah, Regional Director of Education, Mr. Stephen Abamfo, and Municipal Director of Education for Korle Klottey, Mr. Philip Aidoo.
The rest were the Municipal Chief Executive for Korle Klottey, Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah, Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey Constituency, Madam Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum.
GNA