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Ghana would be back to its old best, if all Ghanaians give out their best and consistently fight against corruption, President Nana Akufo-Addo has charged.

The president, clearly not happy about the current situation Ghana finds itself in, stated that: “It cannot be right that sixty years after independence, Ghana, our beloved country, (that is a quote!) should be in its current state. But I do not want us simply to moan about our present conditions. I urge you to lend your wholehearted support to this government and the efforts we have just began to make to build a happy and prosperous nation. Hard work and a consistent fight against corruption in public life would bring the transformation we look for.”

The President delivered this challenging speech during the 90th anniversary celebration of Achimota School.

As a school that prides itself of producing some of the nation’s finest leaders in all sectors, President Nana Akufo-Addo called on the school authorities to focus on producing good students who are ready to be responsible and pickup leadership roles after school rather than ones who only interested in passing their examinations.

Full speech below…

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF ACHIMOTA SCHOOL, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017.

This is a wonderful day in the life of this great institution. So much of the modern history of our country is bound up in the history of this place, and it is appropriate that we celebrate, in a grand style, the 90th anniversary of its birth.

I did not attend this school, but I have strong links with this most famous of schools in our country.

My maternal grandfather, Nana Ofori-Atta I, the illustrious Okyenhene, the redoubtable Kojo Dua, was one of the main sponsors of the Achimota project, and it would not have been surprising if his name had found a place in those recognised as the founders. Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg-Ofori-Atta would probably not have been out of place. But I have no intention of starting an argument along those lines on a day like this.

My Achimota connection is strong. My father, Edward Akufo-Addo, was one of the pioneer students of the school and became the first senior prefect. My aunt, Susan Ofori-Atta, the first female Ghanaian doctor, came to this school and became the head girl. My uncle, William Ofori-Atta, the celebrated Paa Willie, also came here and became senior prefect during his time. My mother, Adeline, Yeboakua, came to this school and became games prefect. Several other uncles and aunts, Aaron (Kofi Asante), Kuntunkunku (Teacher Joe), Grace and Jones, also attended Achimota School. And oh, my brother, Edward, abandoned Marlborough in England after his O’ Levels, and came here for his sixth form. Achimota has remained the school of choice for both sides of my family, including the latest Finance Minister of our country, the flavour of the moment, Ken Ofori-Atta. The lady who runs my office, Saratu Atta, is also an Achimotan. My wife, Rebecca, too, has an Achimotan connection, as she came to primary school here.  

To provide an answer to the question that has been asked about why I did not come here, shall we say that I was at a school that was equally exciting, which did an excellent job, I hope, in giving me an education that has prepared me for life and all its vicissitudes. I must confess, though, that I used to visit this school a lot in my youth, since I had many friends, male and female, here. This is what allows me to express my solidarity with you by wearing your cloth.  

Achimota was started with a clear vision of training young Ghanaians for leadership roles. It was supposed to be an unashamedly elite school. And I use the word elite here not in the pejorative sense of our times.

More than ninety years ago, Governor Guggisberg had a dream of establishing a school in the then Gold Coast that would match the standard of the best high schools in America and Europe. His vision was to create an institution that would produce quality students who would be nurtured further at the tertiary level to mature as quality human resource for the rapid development of the nation. His ultimate aim, to quote him, in a passage that is often cited, was also to ‘bridge the intellectual gap between the African who had completed his education at an English university and that of the semi-educated African of our primary schools’.

In many ways, Achimota has fulfilled its promise. We have heard the roll-call of presidents, 4½ of the 8 civilian presidents, I say half because my predecessor was at primary school here; vice chancellors and other high level officials who have been through this school. You have produced presidents and prime ministers, not only for Ghana, but for other African countries, and you have a reputation that is unmatched.