By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, July 28, GNA – The Odorgonno Senior High School (OSSA) in Accra is to be elevated to Category A status in the upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) placement.
The announcement was made by Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, the Board Chairman of the school, during the school’s 86th Anniversary Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration held in Accra.
The celebration brought together education stakeholders, traditional leaders, alumni and government officials.
Under Ghana’s second-cycle school categorisation system, senior high schools are classified into categories to guide student placement.
The categorisation reflects factors such as academic performance, infrastructure, reputation and capacity.
Category A schools are generally regarded as among the most preferred institutions in the country.
Odorgonno was initially placed under Category B in the initial placement, allowing prospective second-cycle institution students to select the school as a second option.
Under the announced Category A status, prospective SHS students will be able to select Odorgonno as a first option in the upcoming school placement system.
Addressing students, staff, alumni, parents and invited guests, Rev. Dr. Tetteh said the elevation was a major achievement for the school and commended the efforts of government, management, staff, students and old students who had contributed to the institution’s growth.
He expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Education for the decision to upgrade the school to Category A status.
He said the development was a vote of confidence in the school’s academic standing and future prospects.
“While we celebrate this achievement and this elevation, we must also recognise the responsibilities that accompany it,” Rev. Dr. Tetteh said.
He noted that the new status would require the school community to maintain higher standards in academic performance, discipline and leadership.
“Category A status calls for higher standards in academic performance, discipline, leadership, infrastructure, teaching and learning,” he stated.
He urged students and staff to work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in the institution.
The Board Chairman said his relationship with Odorgonno SHS remained deeply personal and emotional, adding that the school had provided the foundation for his academic and professional achievements.
He also appealed to alumni of the school, known as Odorgonians, to strengthen their commitment to the development of their alma mater through mentorship, resource mobilisation, infrastructure support and active participation in school activities.
According to him, the elevation to Category A status presents an opportunity for past students across the world to contribute towards positioning Odorgonno SHS among the country’s most respected senior high schools.
Mr. Patrick K. Mensah, Headmaster of the school, said the development was encouraging but stressed that significant challenges still confronted the school.
He cited the absence of a science laboratory, congestion in boarding facilities and inadequate ICT infrastructure as some of the critical issues requiring attention.
Mr. Mensah, however, acknowledged the crucial role being played by old students, the Parent-Teacher Association and development partners in supporting the school’s growth.
He revealed that alumni had provided a transformer, streetlights, roofing for parts of the administration block and other emergency interventions that had improved conditions on campus.
“We have received tremendous support from our old students, and their commitment continues to drive the school’s development,” he said.
Hajia Katumi Natogmah Atta, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, urged students to embrace discipline, innovation and lifelong learning as they prepared for a rapidly changing global environment.
She said education in the modern era went beyond academic achievement and must equip learners with creativity, integrity and digital competence.
Odorgonno Senior High School, popularly known as Great OSSA, is one of Ghana’s oldest second-cycle institutions.
The school was established on January 25, 1940, as a boys’ day school at Adabraka in Accra by Joseph Thomas Leigh, a former teacher of Accra High School, together with other educationists who shared a vision of expanding access to quality secondary education.
The school derived its name from the nearby Odaw River, on whose ridge the original campus was situated. What began as a modest institution gradually gained recognition for excellence in academics, sports and co-curricular activities.
GNA
Reporter: Jibril Abdul Mumuni
[email protected]_
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong