MAY- JULY | 2022 EDITION
AOBA NEWS
Adisadel Old Boys Association Newsletter
often alarming. The target is to raise Gh ₵ 20 million
($3 million) globally to help in that direction.
The fund was set up to provide a pool for
Santaclausians and other well-meaning persons
to contribute financially to promote the interest of
the college. The goal of the fund is to resource the
college financially to deliver in all its educational
activities. Santaclausians therefore have a daunting
task to build up an endowment fund which will help
sustain the future of the school.
As we proudly sing the School Ode and espouse
on its words. Let us be reminded of the fervor,
the imaginations Rev. Alan John Knight had in
translating his dreams into reality, by bringing the
school from Topp Yard to the Adisdael Hill. We must
also remember the worthy and glorious generation
of the early willing students who labored on in
erecting the first structures on the Hill.
Editorial
Adisadel College, the Alma Mater of Great Men,
continues to live up to the vision of our founding
fathers. Established in 1910 by the Anglican
Missionaries, the school has produced high profile
men who have excelled in their chosen fields of
endeavor both locally and internationally to make
Adisadel proud.
The proverbial Adisadel Spirit of Self Help and
Solidarity is the bedrock of the Santaclausian
fraternity. The Adisadel Spirit is inculcated in every
santaclausian who climbs the Hills of Adisadel. The
enterprising zeal, tendency to excel, commitment to
do exploit and add to the gains of their predecessors
overwhelm all the sons of St. Nicholas where ever
they find themselves. It is this enabling spirit that
propels Santaclausians to always think of and work
for the welfare and reputation of the school.
.
It is in this light of reechoing the Adisadel Spirit
that the Adisadel College Trust Fund would be re
launched on July 14th, 2022. Whilst government
assisted schools derive their revenue solely from the
government, the allocated funds are never enough
to meet the annual budget, making it necessary to
look elsewhere to meet the budget deficits that are
We the present generation of Santaclausians are
conscious of our past and are determined to build
upon it to merit fully the sacrifices that those who
went before us made for the upliftment of the
school. Our School Ode in which is enshrined the
ideals, hopes and aspirations of the school enjoins
all Santaclausians
to give nothing but their
best and never think of rest
and above all play up for
the school’s great name.
It is a marching order for Santaclausians to give of
their best in any circumstance.
We look forward to the future with confidence and
hope that all Santaclausians will contribute to the
Adisadel College Trust Fund, so that those who will
come after us will take up our story and dedicate
themselves to the Adisadel Spirit of Self Help.
Up Santcalacians ! Stand up to be countered.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
HEADMASTER’S
SPEECH
at Speechday 2022
Mr. Samuel Kofi Agudogo
M
y Lord Bishop, Board Chair and members
of the Board, Honorable Minister of
Education, Honorable Minister of Trade and
Industry, Honorable Central Regional Minister, Nana
Oguaamanhene, Directors of Education, Metro Chief
Executive, members of Central CHASS, all Santaclausians
here gathered, members of staff (both teaching and nonteaching), parents, the media, invited guests, students, all
protocol observed, ladies and gentlemen, good morning
and a very warm welcome on this 112th Speech, Prize
Giving and Founders’ day, where we are gathered to
celebrate the successes achieved by our students. On this
special day, I will highlight the major achievements for
the year, amongst some challenges and I hope I will do
justice to all of them.
This Is the Santa Spirit: Well, a day like this makes me
feel very proud to be a former student, now a teacher and
a Headmaster for that matter. It is a day that sends me
down memory lane. I can see myself, today, in the shoes
of my Headmaster, Mr. Ralph Ayitey, (alias Agbanyo) of
blessed memory. Casting my mind back several years,
I can clearly recollect how I, (as a little boy together
with my mates) was seeing my Headmaster then and that
makes me realize how my dear young ones of the College
today will be seeing me. My lord Bishop Chairman, ladies
and gentlemen, STEM education is the order of the day
in this 21st century and some scholars think the fine Arts
should be added to STEM hence STEAM education. We
must ensure that students from all backgrounds are given
the chance to contribute meaningfully to the solution
of all problems, as diversity in science and technology
leads to diversity in problem solving and solutions. I can
confidently say that Nana Otwasuom Osae Nyampong
VI and the 1995-year group realized and knew this,
hence their efforts to get the school a STEM house. Here,
today, the entire Adisadel College Community is proud
to announce that we have a two storey six-unit lab STEM
building on our campus (maybe the first school in Ghana
to have such). Nana and 95-year group, we are grateful.
Student Enrollment
The College had 3,171 students enrolled last year.
However, we currently have 2,014 students and awaiting
the arrival of a new batch of SS1 students. I would
guess that as old boys of the College, you may not be
quite so excited with the growing numbers, without the
corresponding infrastructural expansion, but every child
deserves the right to education and increasing numbers or
not, my staff and I are determined to turn out graduates
who are not just educated but who will stand out from
the crowd in their future lives as interesting individuals
of good character, who possess the skill set and mind set
to make the most of a fast-ever-changing future world
and above all who will make a positive difference in the
world.
Academic Performance and Awards
WASSCE 2021: Our general percentage pass in the 2020
WASSCE was 95.3%. Our quality percentage pass was
63.4%. That is those who obtained grades A1 to B3. (One
8A’s, seven 7A’s and thirteen 6As). The good news is
that the students who fell within this 63.4% were most
likely to have been given their first-choice programs of
study at their selected universities. However, the 2021
WASSCE result of the College showed a massive leap in
performance over that of 2020. Eighteen (18) of our 2021
batch of students have recorded grade 8A’s, compared
to only one 8A’s in 2020. As many as twenty-one (21)
of them had 7A’s compared to only seven 7A’s in 2020.
One must, however, admit that despite such sterling
performance, there remains room for improvement.
National Science and Math Quiz: The school took part
in the NSMQ competition held at KNUST, Kumasi,
from the 12th November to the 3rd December, 2021.
Unfortunately, we were kicked out in the quarter finals.
Even though this year’s performance was not the best,
we are not the only top school that was kicked out. In
fact, out of all the top schools in Central Region, only one
school (Wesley Girls SHS) progressed to the next level
of the competition. We are not competing with anyone;
rather we want to be the best that we can be, so we say
“Vel Primus, Vel Cum Primis”
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Robotics: The College is doing well in the areas of
debate, sports, photography, regimental Cadet Corps,
choir and robotics. In robotics for instance, we were
second in the national competition in 2020 but for the
year under review (2021), we won the Robotics National
competition, participated in the Robotics International
competition and won the Best activity group in the world
category and came 2nd in the African Robotics Games.
This achievement earned the College an award at the
prestigious Osaberima Royal Award. The College also
took the second position in the Regional SHS Renewable
Energy Challenge and finally we were third in the
Independence Day quiz competition. The Robotics team
was headed by Mrs. Rosemary Baiden, who was assisted
by Rev David A. Quampah and Mr. Stephen Kontoh
Mensah. They were sponsored by the Adisadel Old Boys
Association -North America and the Adisadel College
Foundation of North America and some prominent
individuals such as Ambrose Mercer, (76), Mark K.
Aggrey (82) and Kwabena Sarpong, (77) who are all in
the United States of America.
Discipline/Students Welfare in the College
In general, discipline within the ranks of both staff
and students is satisfactory. However, the situation
cannot be said to be perfect since a few staff members
and some students have had to be cautioned verbally,
received written queries and even sanctioned. Adisadel
College has never compromised on issues that bother on
discipline. Some parents, for reasons best known to them,
make instilling discipline in their wards a challenge. We
fervently plead with parents, guardians and all wellwishers to lend us their support to instill the needed
discipline in our future leaders for one can only attempt to
solve and may succeed in solving a challenge if and only
if he/she accepts that there is a challenge that needs to be
cleared. Both the GES Unified code of Discipline and
the College Rules and Regulations are used to interpret
offences and prescribe sanctions.
My Lord Bishop Chairman, I would like, on behalf of
the College Community, to say a huge thank you to
the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Education,
the Ghana Education Service, our fantastic Board of
Governors, the Anglican Church, the Parents’ Association
(PA), who put in, severally and in diverse ways, so many
unnoticed, unpaid and largely unrecognized hours on
behalf of the Community. The beating heart of a school
is its students, supported by a committed network of
adults. The Community of stakeholders say thank you to
you, the students’ body, for submitting yourselves to be
trained and molded and for allowing us, the adults, to
inculcate in you the vital traits needed for positive adult
life. I would like to thank the staff - both teaching and
non–teaching, who I know work very hard to maintain
not just the high academic aspirations we all dream of
but also all the other events and activities which make
this College so special. None of this would have been
possible without the support of our wonderful parents and
I am grateful for the trust and confidence you continue to
place in our teachers and the wider College Community.
My Lord Bishop Chair, finally, to the hosting year group,
the 1997-year group, I say “YOU DO ALL”. Thank you
and God bless
ROADS ON CAMPUS
About 95% of the roads in the College have been given
an asphalt overlay.
PROJECTS BY GETFUD
• 450 capacity dormitory block
• 12 unit, 2 storey classroom block
• 8 units, 4 storey flat
• 3000 capacity centenary auditorium with an ICT
Centre
• 2 storey, 12 unit classroom block
• 2 storey, 12 units classroom block
• 2 storey, 16 unit dormitory
By PARENT ASSOCIATION (PA)
• 3 storey ICT Centre
• a 13 seater toilet facility
YEAR GROUP ACTIVITIES
I cannot find the right words to appreciate our old boys
but to say a big thank you and that “others have labored
and we share in their glory……ours is to do more exploits
to add to their gain…...”
Notably amongst other projects/supports are
• Renovation of Acropolis (The Palace)
• Renovation of Mercer gate
• Extension of the dining hall
• Construction of a new dormitory
• Construction of a Stem house
• Renovation of respective houses
• Painting of parts of the College
• Donation of desktop computers
• Construction of a new library complex
• Sponsoring the robotics team
• Sponsoring the Cadet Corps
• Sponsoring the music department
• Personal donations, both in cash and kind etc.
We are most grateful to you.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
SPEECH BY
DR. DANIEL OWIREDU
President of NEC (AOBA)
at Speechday 2022
M
r. Board Chairman, Rt. Rev. Alexander K. Asmah
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Sekondi,
Board Members, Guest Speaker, Hon. Dr Yaw Osei
Adutwum, Minister of Education, distinguished
guest of honor, , Hon. Allan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng
(Santa 1970), Minister of Trade and Industry,
Special Guests: Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor(Santa ’66),
Computer Scientist and Engineer; Major General
Francis Ofori, Santa 78 Commander of the Kofi
Annan Peace Keeping Center, Hon Kennedy
O. Agyapong Santa 81 MP Assin Central, Hon.
Frederick W.A. Blay Santa 68, National Chairman
NPP, Mr. Headmaster, Mr. Samuel Kofi Agudogo
(Santa ’88), Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni
and delegates, representing many generations and
multiple stakeholders, constituencies, and interest
groups, sister colleges, and universities and higher
education associations, Friends and Neighbors….
More than one hundred and twelve (112) years
ago, the then Bishop of Accra, Nathaniel Temple
Hamlyn, had a vision, of educating and training
young men in preparation for the priesthood in the
Anglican Church of Ghana.
His vision became a reality with the founding of
St. Nicholas Grammar at Topp Yard, Cape Coast
in 1910, and the enrollment of the first cohort of
29 boys (the foundation scholars). 112 years
after Bishop Hamlyn’s seminal vision, Adisadel
has blossomed to become one of the prestigious
and productive educational institutions on the
continent. It was recently ranked as one of the
most influential secondary educational institutions
in Africa. A 2014 study by Africa Almanac ranked
Adisadel College 10th out of the top 100 best high
schools in Africa “based on quality of education,
student engagement, strength and activities
of alumni, school profile, internet and news
visibility (https://233times.net/2014/12/100-bestsecondary-schools-in-africa-adisadel-collegeranked-10th).
In aggressive pursuit of her institutional dictum
“Either the First or With the First” [Vel Primus Vel
Cum Primis), Adisadel College has and continues
to strive to be the first or with the first in every
social, economic, political, or technological
endeavor not only in Ghana and Africa, but also
across the globe. Our Old Boys include eminent
academics, legendary professional engineers,
seasoned statesmen, Supreme Court Justices,
Kings, industrialists, business moguls, politicians
Bishops, famous clergy and evangelists.
AOBA: The Quintessential Stakeholder: Leveraging & Applying the Adisadel Spirit
“The Adisadel Spirit” (which meant “Be prepared to serve your school at all times”) was birthed at Topp Yard
and evidenced not only in academics but also in sports and other areas. It was exemplified by students: It
was and is the Adisadel Spirit of self-help and determination—the force that propelled students and staff
at Topp Yard to resolve to make the Hill Top the repository of scholarship and fame. That was then. The
Adisadel Spirit thrives on. As an educational institution of over 112 years, we intend to capitalize on the
generosity and interest of all our stakeholders and leverage their resources and capabilities to enhance
the strategic and operational decisions of the institution. In this regard, in the last ten years, Adisadel Old
Boys have invested an estimated ($2-3) million in multiple legacy projects, the recent one is the beautiful
extension to the dining hall by the 97-year group, major renovations of the dormitories, the digital museum
and other face-lift development projects. As I speak, there are multiple development projects on campus
totally sponsored by Old Boys including a new dormitory sponsored by the family of late Atu Mould Santa 89.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
PROJECTS ON CAMPUS
DONE BY OLD BOYS AND YEAR GROUPS
Project
Year Group
Year
1
Multi-purpose court (tennis, basketball and volley ball) 1987
2012
2
Leyland truck
1988
2013
3
50kva Genset
1989
2014
4
Matchbox extension
1990
2015
5
Sickbay
1991
2016
6
Dining hall extension (West wing)
1992
2017
7
Matchbox extension
1993
2018
8
Matchbox extension
1994
2019
9
STEM Block (2-storey)
1995
2020
10
Digitization of Canterbury hall
1996
2021
11
Dining hall extension (East wing)
1997
2022
12
Staff common room/admin
Dan Owiredu (75)
2012
13
Visitor's waiting area
1979
2016
14
Hamilyn House renovation
Alumni
2022
15
Aglionby House renovation
Alumni
2021
16
Jubilee House renovation
Alumni
2016
17
Ebiradze/Lemaire renovation
Alumni
2016
18
Elliot House renovation
Alumni
2014
19
Knight House renovation
Alumni
2021
20
Canterbury House renovation
Alumni
2018
21
Rehabilitation of College's gate
AOBA-UK
2022
22
Rehabilitation of Acropolis
Santaclausians
2022
NB: Sir Sam Jonah Santa ‘67 sponsored Sam Jonah house before 2012
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
ADISADEL’S VISION
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
T
he fundamental structures undergirding
our local, regional, and national economies
have changed and continue to be dynamically
transformed. While these developments and trends
have imposed significant demands and challenges
on education, training and development in the 21st
century, scholars, researchers and practitioners
from across industries share the consensus that
the economic future of any city, region, nation will
be predicated on their ability to foster change by
promoting and advancing creativity, innovation, and
entrepreneurship in education and other social and
economic sectors. Thus, 112 years after Hamlyn’s
vision and the founding of Adisadel, it has dawned
on us to change, and to change intelligently and
lay the grounds for the 22nd century so that “those
who come after will take up our story…”
Change starts with a powerful and compelling
vision: Our vision is a collective one, a productive
and progressive one involving all stakeholders,
including but not limited to the current students,
teaching and non-teaching staff, the community,
Anglican Church of Ghana, Adisadel Old Boys
Association, Government of Ghana, the local and
regional municipalities, etc. All Hands should be on
deck to execute these productive and progressive
and necessary changes.
The Adisadel Spirit—the propelling force that
empowers service to the school, and the pursuit
of self-determination is enshrined in the old boys
and will become indispensable in the 21st century
(22nd Century?). A notable and shining example of
the Adisadel Spirit is the STEM building which has
come under the sponsorship of Nana Nyampong
VI our esteemed Santa ’68. Nana we thank you
so much. We are also pleased to say that the
Government of Ghana through the Ministry of
Education, has agreed to fund the machinery and
equipment to make the laboratories completely
and fully operational. The AOBA also intends to
launch a $3 million dollar TRUST FUND” this year
to support development projects in the school.
Similarly, the formulation and implementation of
a strategic plan is in the works to address among
other things the holistic and efficient land use. We
are also upgrading the school website.
A lot of changes are in play, all propelled and
empowered by the Adisadel Spirit. You may
be called upon to contribute your quota. Just
remember when it is time for you to do your part.
Others have labored and we share their glory: Ours
to do exploits and add to their gain; Those who
come after will take up our story, May it be worthy
of singing again…Play up, Play up, Santaclusians…
thanks to all old boys for your contributions to
Adisadel, thank you all for your attention.
DR. DANIEL OWIREDU
President of NEC (AOBA)
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
INTERVIEW WITH
MARK K. AGGREY
ADISADEL FOUNDATION TREASURER
Interviewer: Mark, thanks for agreeing to be profiled
for our alumni newsletter. Let’s begin with the question
why Adisadel College? What made you decide to attend
Adisadel College?
Interviewer: Let’s play this game. I
mention a name, or event or club and you
share your memories Cadet Corps. and
SRC Secretary?
Mark k. Aggrey:
I was reading the Daily Graphic newspaper, and on the
back page, was an article about him, with his picture
in full red military ceremonial regalia, with sword and
everything. This was just before we were about to submit
our secondary school application. I then said to myself,
“I want to be like him!” I learnt from the news article
that he attended Adisadel College. So why did I attend
Adisadel College? Because I wanted to be like Brigadier
Kwesi Amankwa Afrifa. He attended Adisadel College
and therefore I was going there and then into the military.
I reported to the campus on Wednesday September 27th,
1977 and was placed in Aglionby House.
Mark k. Aggrey:
I loved the Cadet Corps. It was a continuation of my childhood experience and why the picture
of Brigadier Afrifa had a great impression on me. You see, I grew up in Takoradi, a stone-throw
away from Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS). The 2nd Battalion Infantry (2BN) at that
time was next to GSTS and every Monday morning I was late to school because I spent time
watching the infantry parade. I joined the Adisadel College cadet corps in form two and rose
to the rank of Staff Sergeant in Form 5, and on return to the sixth form served as the assistant
to the PSI. It was fun especially going out on weekend route marches with our “jama”. In Sixth
form, some students wanted me to stand for prefectural elections as Protocol Prefect, but the
headmaster had an opposing view. So, I was encouraged by the outgoing head prefect, Kweku
Ghartey-Sam to contest for the position of Students Representative Council (SRC) Secretary.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Interviewer: Can you recollect your memories of Mr. Raphael Ayittey and other teachers?
Mark k. Aggrey:
The Headmaster’s relationship with me was one of suspicion, not sure why. But I loved that man,
he was a no-nonsense strict disciplinarian, and a real Santaclausian for that matter. In 1984
while studying for the finale exam, I heard a knock on the door to the Kremlin. There was the
headmaster, he came in, we had a brief conversation and he left. The Kremlin was the name of
the room I shared with two other guys. Why Kremlin? just to keep the balance of power between
Upper School and Katanga, since the Head Prefect’s room, the White House was located in
Upper School. Never figured out why the headmaster stopped over, though, he said he came to
see how we were doing, I still have my doubts. I was equally surprised he did not summon me to
his office the next day. Still sad I missed his funeral, really wanted to pay my last respects. I also
fondly remember committed teachers like Mr. Prah (Economics), Mr. Woode (Music and Latin),
and Mr. Acquah Harrison (literature) who made the book, “Things Fall Apart”, come alive. These
guys loved what they did and there was Ms. Banini, whose presence in the classroom, caused
some students to scramble for front row seats in her geography class.
Interviewer: One of the reasons we wanted
to profile you is because of your passion for
the school, the numerous ways you have
contributed to the school but in secret,
including flying to Ghana from the US on
numerous occasions to spend time with the
students on the campus. Why?
Mark k. Aggrey:
Adisadel College provides an equal playing
field irrespective of background. Growing
up in Takoradi, we were not poor, but
neither were we middle class. So, coming to
Adisadel and meeting the kids of some of the
prominent folks in Ghana, and learning their
dads were old boys was an eye opener. I still
remember when we were in Form 1, seeing
Lawyer Mercer in his three-piece suit pacing
back and forth in front of the Form 1 block
preparing to donate a bull, and oranges,
an old boy donating a set of new musical
instruments, and our white shirts were being
laundered at Wiseway Cleaners also courtesy
of an old boy. This could have been normal
for some of my mates, but not for me, and
an affirmation that, I was at the right place,
and that Adisco, indeed provided a level
playing field. Additionally, in 1984, we had
a soccer match coming up with Kwabotwe
at Siedu Park, the then Cape Coast sports
stadium. Our jerseys were worn out and not
fitting for the great Adisco. We couldn’t use
them. Just two days before the match, a DHL
delivery van was on campus delivering three
sets of new jerseys, courtesy of an old boy. I
caught that spirit of giving back to the school
as captured in the school ode “others have
labored and we share their glory, ours is to
do exploits and add to their fame.” It is our
collective responsibility to make available
to current students the same or better
opportunities and provide that level playing
field Adisadel offered us. As Santaclausians
we are unique in this regard.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Interviewer: I will mention a project you are
implementing in the school and you explain
why, reasons or benefits. Let’s start with
Design Thinking and Robotics.
Mark k. Aggrey:
Design Thinking is a collaborative and
iterative problem-solving technique that can
be found in the halls of some of the most
productive and successful US fortune 500
companies, and in some desolate and poor
environments, it lends itself to be used to
find solutions to problems. Just as some of
our current buildings were constructed by
students, we envisaged that the exposure
of Adisco (Ghanaian) students to this novel
design thinking approach could be what is
needed in unleashing their creative minds
and energies in attempting to tackle long
standing problems on the campus and in
their communities. We knew introducing this
new paradigm into the educational program
would be a challenge, but then, how do you
say no, when assigned a task by seniors from
the sixties, and when you have the AOBA-NA
fraternity behind you. I was introduced to Dr.
Tralance Addy (Santa 63) by Godfred Ottuteye
(Santa 62) as a potential Guest Speaker for
the US Alumni Congress.
Dr. Addy’s speech at the Congress, centered
on alumni taking a different approach in
supporting our respective alma mater, with
an emphasis on student development and
wanted to introduce our students to the
concept of Design Thinking. We finally pulled
it off after a year of ups and downs, with a
team comprised of Ms. Faustina Boakye, Dr.
and Mrs. Addy; Professor Emeritus of the
Stanford Business School. Dr. James Patel
and Mrs. Patel and with financial support from
AOBA-NA, the Adisadel Foundation, Dr. and
Mrs. Addy, and myself. We organized a 6-day
workshop for students from Adisadel, St.
Augustine’s, Mfanstipim, University Practice
and Wesley Girls, with the theme “Innovation
In Action: Taking Action to Improve our
World”, at the University of Cape Coast. Dr.
Patel used MBA level materials, however,
the students understood the concepts and
developed their own projects, with students
of Adisadel landscaping the front of the
classroom blocks.
Regarding Robotics, being an IT executive
has given me a front view to the growth of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the resurgence
and popularity of robotics process automation
(RPA). Upon leaving Adisadel, I attended
University of Science and Technology in
Kumasi for a year, moved to the US and
eventually graduated with a master’s in
management information systems from Drexel
University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As
a result of my role, I get to see lots of data
and ideas from companies making pitches to
me on their capabilities and services in using
machine learning and robotics to solve all
kinds of problems.
Additionally, my son, a computer science
student enjoyed engaging his ‘Oldman’ on
AI and robotics discussions, trying to teach
me a thing or two. When the Manfe Methodist
Girls won the global robotics competition, I
was quite impressed just like most. However, I
sprang into action when a friend commented
that Adisco can’t do that. I tracked down
the Manfe robotics teacher and visited the
school, engaged the young ladies on robotics
discussions and left very impressed, especially
considering what I saw. That these young
ladies had very old laptops with some falling
apart and no sophisticated equipment. I also
found out that Adisco had a robotics club. I
contacted the teacher leading the Robotics
Club at Adisadel and started the process of
coordinating funding from our alumni in the
US through the Adisadel Foundation (US),
AOBA-NA and some individuals.
The Adisadel Robotics Club, had over 90
students with a waiting list at the end of the
last academic year. The club was runner-up
in 2020 and 2021 champions at the Ghana
National Robotics Competition and qualified
to represent Ghana in the international
competition in 2021. I also arranged with my
mate, Prof Owusu Sekyere, Vice Chancellor
of Cape Coast Technical University who
made available students and professors
from the schools Engineering department
to provide oversight to the Adisco robotics
club. It’s amazing what these boys can do
given the right tools. Some of them can code
(write computer programs) in 4 different
programming languages – all self-taught.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Interviewer: You mentioned Adisadel Foundation, US and the US alumni Congress held on
Memorial Day. Do you play any role in these organizations or activities?
Mark k. Aggrey:
Well, I serve as the Treasurer of the Adisadel Foundation US, founded to raise funds in the
US to support infrastructure and academic programs on campus. Apart from supporting
Design Thinking and Robotics Club, we have funded other projects such as expanding the
water infrastructure on campus and jointly funded other projects with AOBA-NA, including the
rehabilitation of the school’s library. Additionally, we provide a vehicle for different year groups
and houses to donate tax deductible funds to support their various projects on campus.
The AOBA-NA Congress held during the Memorial-Day weekend in May, was borne out of a
gathering the Adisadel Foundation organized to receive our former headmaster, the late Mr. R.T.
Orleans-Pobee to the Washington, DC area in the early 2000. It was a very good gathering and
provided the opportunity for some of us, young ones, to interact with the late Orleans Pobee.
Based on the success of that gathering AOBA-NA decided to incorporate the congress into the
Memorial-Day weekend program. It offers the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues facing the
school and to provide a means for networking among the alumni body in the US.
Interviewer: You briefly mentioned your son. Where do you currently live and tell
us a little bit about your family.
Mark k. Aggrey:
I live in Schwenksville, a suburb of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. I am thankful for
the support of my wife, and family, making it possible for me to involve myself in
Adisadel matters to the extent I have been. My son is currently a grad student and
my daughter a Neurology resident.
Interviewer: Any final thoughts?
Mark k. Aggrey:
It is difficult for me to sing the school ode with such bravado and not be true to its
words. Artificial Intelligence and robotics are the future and I am hopeful Adisadel,
through the support of alumni continue to excel in this space and provide equal
opportunity to such programs for all its students. I feel this will give our students
from similar backgrounds like I came from the opportunity of their lifetime.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
ARTICLES
STORIES & POEMS
Your Life, Not Theirs
Osei Kwabena Joshua
3S4 Gold
Bishop Le-Maire House
Life is about ten percent what happens to you and
about ninety percent how you react to it. Your life
depends on you alone. Your reaction to situations
speaks a lot about you. How you react to both
positive and negative news portrays the caliber
of person you are. You must groom yourself in a
manner that mere circumstances and situations will
not be able to change your good way of life and
your standard of living.
Only you have the power to change your life. No one
can do that for you because no one is you and that
is your super power. The past cannot be changed
but the future is yet in your power. You must live
each day as if your life had just begun.
Accept no one’s definition for your life, define
yourself. Reputation is what others perceive of you
but character is the real you. Sometimes, the way
people see you is nothing near who you really are.
Do not let the way people see you and what others
say or think about you define your personality. You
must understand who you are in order to know how
to live your life to your satisfaction having in mind
the consequence of your actions.
can grant you the best and sometimes the worst,
the beautiful and the ugly, progress and sometimes
retrogression. You are to be assertive enough to
face life to be able to enjoy the best things that it
offers. There are many things in this life and in this
world which have the power to make or mar you.
Have strong visions and principles you hold dear
in order not to conform to external events and the
happenings of the world.
Failure can never overtake you if your determination
to succeed is strong enough. Always know that it’s
your life and no one else’s. Remember that if it is to
be, it is up to you. Set goals that are beyond your
comfort zone and never think of stopping when
you are tired but you stop when you are done in
order to do something you have never done. We
may encounter many defeats but we must not be
defeated. Know that, champions are defined not by
the number of wins but by how they recover when
they fall. Even if you fall, rise up to your feet, have
your focus and continue going until you succeed.
Keep pushing and never stop. Accept constructive
criticisms that can add value to your life and turn
deaf ears to the negative comments and speeches
that kill visions. It’s your life, not theirs. Always
remember to
BE YOURSELF.
You have to program yourself or else your mind
will be programmed for you by external events or
people. This world has a variety of things to offer. It
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
ARTICLES
STORIES & POEMS
Your Friend, Your Reflection
Amma boahemma
Adisadel College
Cape Coast
A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he’s really
like may be determined by the kind of friends he
chooses. A person’s behavior cannot be predicted
from his/her looks or physical appearance until we
get to know him/her. Friends play a vital role in the
life of a person. The kinds of people we associate
with have a huge impact on our behaviors and
decisions we take as humans. The image we see
when we stand in front of a mirror has absolutely
nothing to do with the character and the behavior of
the individual. Know how you choose your friends
and the people you share your secrets with.
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of
the world walks out. Our harsh moments and our
trial times can be a blessing in disguise. It’s during
that time that we get to know our true friends. Most
of the people you call friends love you for what you
have and what they get from you. If you lose what
attracts their love, they begin to shoo you away from
their lives. People who stay with us in our toughest
moments and through the storms of our lives are
people we can proudly call our friends. A true friend
is one who understands your past, believes in your
future and accepts your present just the way you
are.
With some people, you spend an evening lout,
with others you invest it. Something spent cannot
be regained but, an investment yields profit to the
investor. We spend time with people who do not
add any value to our lives but the little time we get
to spend with serious and visionary friends goes
a long way to shape our future for the best. We
must invest more time with positive people and
quit spending time with people with no defined
ambitions. If you want to be inspired, do not look
for those that have expired.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl
but if you associate with eagles, you will learn how
to soar. Wolves are animals that really make a lot
of noise with their cry whilst eagles are birds with
phenomenal attributes and can fly to the highest
point possible that no other bird can reach. There
are some people we call our friends who only love
to make noise and discuss unnecessary things.
There are others too who are always obsessed
with success and will do everything godly to attain
such heights. They are always devising strategies
and innovative ideas that can trigger their success
without leaving God behind. The more we associate
with such people, the better our lives will improve
to enable us soar higher like the eagle. People who
nod when you nod, who change when you change
are not friends, they are rather shadows. They do
not have anything to offer for improvement of our
lives.
Stay away from people who always discuss others
instead of discussing ideas. Know whom you call
your friend. Friends who don’t help you climb, will
want you to crawl. Your friends will spread your
vision but not choke your dreams. Choose your
friends wisely because they are your reflection.
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
THE AOBA
T
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
he Adisadel Old Boys Association (AOBA) was reorganized in 2010 just at the
time our great Alma mater crossed the centenary mark. Old students of our great
school came together to celebrate her hundred years of existence and also her
contribution to Ghana’s independence political movements, nation-building,
national development and college’s emergence as a force for good on the global
public service and educational space. Countless number of former students of this
great college have contributed to academic knowledge and excelled in different
professions with skills and abilities honed on the hill.
Over several decades and years, Old Boys who
found themselves on distant shores in different
continents have formed associations and groups to
look out for each other’s interests and to primarily
promote the good name, image, and development of
Adisadel College. In time, we came to have groups
like AOBA-UK (for United Kingdom and Northern
Ireland) and AOBA-NA (for North America i.e.,
Canada, USA, and Americas). Countless number
of Santaclausians made it to these continents by
dint of hard work to pursue undergraduate and
graduate programmes in top universities. This has
led to a lot of Santaclausians pursuing different
career and professional paths after the completion
of their programmes of study in these countries;
and creating a very dynamic, energetic, and useful
pool of Santaclausians abroad who are always in
touch with the school and their peers in Ghana. It is
thus possible to come across a Santaclausian who
belongs to a Year Group and a Geographical group.
In Ghana, several Santaclausians from different
Year Groups have found themselves in different
geographical regions through work and thus
formed groups like Tarkwa Group and Tamale
Group of Santaclausians. Some Santaclausians
also found themselves working in a particular
professional environment and decided to also form
Santaclausian Professional groups like the Bank of
Ghana group.
Working for Old Boys and the collegeThe Executive Council (NEC)
A creation of the constitution that came into effect
right after the Centenary Celebrations in June /
July 2010 exists primarily to facilitate relationships
between all interest groups and stakeholders who
have the development of Adisadel College at heart.
In the last two decades, the AOBA-NEC has been
at the forefront of bringing Santaclausians far and
near together through various platforms and fora
like the annual Speech, Prize-giving and Founder’s
Day celebrations which is commemorated and
celebrated in March of every year. At such events,
students who are celebrating 25 years of their
departure from this great school present their legacy
project that seeks to enhance academic life and
make student life on campus both enjoyable and
memorable. Every year at these events, groups of
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Old Boys (Year Groups) undertake various projects
at their own cost and present same to the school
and learning of music. Several national musicians
have come out of Adisadel College like the famous
to augment the culture of learning on the great Hill.
Guy Warren Agya Koo Nimo. All these happened
under the able leadership of Headmaster OrleansPobee. He was in all essence the quintessential
Santaclausian who brought out the best in his
students making their sojourn on the Hill one of
the best things that happened in their life. The
template that Mr. R. T. Orleans-Pobee left behind
has guided Adisadel up till this day. It is for these
and other achievements that the Santaclausian
fraternity celebrates this great son of the soil with
the annual lectures.
The AOBA-NEC is always at the helm of affairs
liaising between these groups and the school
authorities to ensure these projects see the light of
day. The AOBA-NEC initiated the Robert Thompson
Orleans-Pobee Memorial lectures held in honour
of a former illustrious son of the Hill who became
a headmaster in the 1960s and 1970s and during
whose tenure the school chalked several successes.
In all areas of academics, sports, and entertainment,
Adisadel was truly living up to her motto: Vel Primus
Vel Cum Primis! The famed Adisadel spirit was
on full display with students excelling in exams;
sportsmen bearing the palm in inter-Schools and
Colleges Sports competitions; and going on to
became national athletes representing Ghana at the
Olympic Games and other international sporting
events.
The school’s jazz band for instance was popular
and a regular feature on the Pop Chain series on
Ghana Television and were even invited to play at
national events like Independence Day celebrations
and other events within the Central Region. A
culture of music was created in the school which
led to the students taking up interests in the study
At the Centenary celebrations, Mr. Robert Thompson
Orleans-Pobee was unanimously elected as the
“Santaclausian of the Century” for his influence and
legacy on the Hill. At such lectures, Santaclausians
gather to listen to a lecture by one of their own on
topical issues of national importance which have
a bearing on the educational sector. But for the
COVID-19 pandemic which brought life in most
parts of the world to a standstill, we would have
celebrated this Great Santaclausian in 2020 and
2021. He lives in our hearts. Santaclausians meet
at such platforms, dialogue, exchange ideas and
fraternize with the good name and image of Adisadel
College in mind at all times. The AOBA-NEC is
solely responsible for ensuring the organization of
these lectures every year, often held in the month
of October to coincide with the honoree’s birthday.
The AOBA-NEC is also part of the school’s
governance structure with representation at Board
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
of Governors level. Our two reps are on the Board
to bring to bear the aspirations and wishes of the
Old Boys and to clearly articulate our positions
on issues that come to the Board for discussion.
Our representation at the board affords us the
opportunity to dialogue with other stakeholders to
uphold and maintain the traditions of the school
whilst also advocating for reforms that inure to the
benefit of the college.
triumphed on the wings of a handful of financial
supporters who are OLD BOYS.
AOBA-NEC’s reps regularly apprise the NEC
on happenings at Board meetings to keep the
leadership abreast with developments on campus.
The Old Boys through the National leadership
lobbied and advocated for a capable, experienced,
and well qualified Old Boy to take the helm of affairs
and bring the traditions of the school to bear on
students life on campus. This was achieved by
collaborating with the leadership of the Anglican
Church, Ghana Education Service and The Ministry
of Education.
Currently the NEC has worked out an annual training
workshops for teachers to build their capacity in
contemporary leadership and management of
schools.
The AOBA-NEC did play supportive role to Sir Sam
Jonah (Santa 67, Hamlyn house) in putting up a full
house which provides accommodation for more
than two hundred (200) students. The family of
another illustrious son, Mr. Atu Mould (Santa 89,
Jubilee house) (of blessed memory), are also being
supported to put up another house of residence for
students on campus. These philanthropic gestures
have gone a long way to make life comfortable
for students on campus and provided space
and opportunities for students to be part of the
Santaclausian family.
In addition, the AOBA-NEC has also been working
with the GES to get all GETFund-sponsored
projects completed to enhance academic work on
campus. Currently, work is at an advanced stage
on the Centenary Hall where the last five Speech
and Prize-Giving day events have been held. Also,
through the instrumentality of the NEC, roads on
campus have been asphalted.
The AOBA-NEC encourages members to support
the school in cash and in kind. In the area of
Sports, lots of Old Boys have assisted the school’s
Athletic, Hockey, Basketball and Football teams
with jerseys, equipment, and other accessories.
These contributions have helped Adisco to triumph
in many sports competitions.
In the area of Quiz Competitions, Old Boys’
support has come in very handy from the Writers
and Debaters Club to the Robotic Club to the
now-famous National Science and Math Quiz
competitions; our charges have excelled and
Finally, the AOBA-NEC also encourages its members
to fraternize regularly so they can get to know each
other well and support them in times of need. To
crown all its activities for every year, the AOBANEC organizes an end-of-year get-together where
members from different Year groups, Geographical
groups and Professional groups get the opportunity
to fraternize. At such events, Santaclausians who
have distinguished themselves in various fields of
endeavor and brought honour to the Santaclausian
faithful are recognized and given various awards. It
is at such annual events that Santaclausians renew
our pledge once again to put Adisadel College first
and foremost in all we do because our roots and
educational umbilical cords are buried there on that
great Hill in Cape Coast.
New developments
1. NEC now has representations of AOBA-US and
AOBA-UK on the executive committee making
it a more global body. This additions, have been
very useful in our deliberations since we now have
global perspectives on issues discussed.
2. A global communications committee works on
the bi-monthly newsletter to give it an all-round
Adisco touch
3. A global IT team which is harnessing individual
skill set towards a synchronized Adisadel website to
provide a one-stop information on Santaclausians.
4. A global fund-raising team for the re launch of
the Adisadel Trust Fund
5. A database development team has been set
up to build data of all Santaclausians to facilitate
stronger bonding among Old boys
There is more coming from the AOBA-NEC. The
torch that was lit at Topp Yard in Cape Coast on 4th
January 1910 has today emblazoned and touched
the lives of thousands who have passed through
her gates. The AOBA-NEC will ensure that this
bright light keeps burning and illuminating the lives
of many more people.
Peter Atoura (Santa 93 and NEC secretary)
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Adisadel Old Boys’ Projects
2012-2022 (10yrs)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Renovation
AOBA-UK
Repainting/provision of toilet
facility and extension of wall
$20k
Canterbury
Hall E-library
1996
Digitize documents and
provision of IT equipment
$60K
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Renovation of
old Library
AOBA-NA
Provision of new fans, new
tables and chairs and laptops
and paintings
$40K
Extension of
left wing of
dining hall
1992
Extended dining hall wing/
provision of tables and chairs
$120K
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Renovation of
Knight House
Alumni of
Knight house
Replacement of toilets, bath
rooms, louvres, nets and
painting, lockers, lawn and
renovation works of housemasters house
$50k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Expansion of
match box flat
94
Project
Expansion of
match box flat
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Renovation of
Ebiradze/Lemaire House
Alumni of
Ebiradze/
Lemaire
house
Replacement of toilets,
bathrooms, louvres, nets and
painting
$60k
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Expand flats from 2 to 4 for
teachers
$150K
Expansion of
match box flat
93
Expand flats from 2 to 4 for
teachers
$150K
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
90
Expand flats from 2 to 4 for
teachers
$150K
Provision
of visitor’s
pavilion
78
Built a new pavilion for
visitors
$40K
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
$30K
House renovation
Alumni of
Quaque
house
Replacement of toilets,
bathrooms, louvres, nets, and
painting
$60k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
A new basketball court
87
Multipurpose court-basket
ball, volley ball and tennis
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Building of new
20-seater toilet
facility at upper
school
1981
New toilet facility
$40k
Extension of
right wing of
dining hall
1997
Extended dining hall wing/
provision of tables and chairs
$180K
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
House renovation
Alumni of
Hamlyn
house
Replacement of toilets,
bathrooms, louvres, nets,
painting, and floors
$50k
20-bed sick
bay
91
Built a new 20-bed sick bay
with toilets, washrooms, and
storerooms
$130k
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
3-storey
STEM Block
95/Nana
Otwasuom
Osae Nyampong
Built a new 3-storey STEM
block with 6 laboratories
$300k
2-storey Staff
meeting and
conference
room
Dr Dan
Owiredu
New 2-storey staff meeting
and conference rooms with
offices
$200k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
House renovation
Alumni of
Aglionby
house
Replacement of toilets,
bathrooms, louvres, nets
painting, and overhead
water tank
$40k
House renovation
Alumni of Jubilee house
Replacement of toilets, bathrooms, louvres, nets painting,
and overhead water tank
$30k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Extra Toilets
facilities with
overhead
tank at Admin
block
75
Provision of toilet facility,
handwashing basins and
overhead tank
$20k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
50KVA Gen
set
89
Provision of power for upper
school
$50k
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Cold storage
facility of
kitchen
83
Provision of cold storage
facility with a genset for
kitchen
$30k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Truck
88
Provision of a truck
$60k
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Acropolis renovation
US, UK,
and GH
Santaclausians
Provision of new Louvres,
washrooms, kitchen, tiles
and painting
$20k
Van
Ernest
Bediako
New 12-seater van
$45k
We wish to apologize to AOBA-NA for
omitting their contribution to the Acropolis
renovation in our Jan-March edition.
Thanks,
Communication Team
THE BEST IS
YET TO COME!!!
Project
Group
Scope of work
Cost ($)
Fence wall
76 (Legacy)
and many
year groups
Fencing the entire school
land to protect encroachment
$55k
Long live Adisco!
Long live Santaclausians!!
Long live AOBA-NEC!!!
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION
AOBA NEWS
Adisadel Old Boys Association Newsletter
Authored by
Anthony Awotwe-Bosumafi (Aglionby, Santa ‘91)
VP Communication and Projects
Designed by
Frederick Asante Agyemang - Agingo (Quaque, Santa ‘97)
Editorial Team
Richmond Quaye - Asaawa (Santa ‘94)
Alfred Essandoh (knight, Santa ‘87)
Kofi Osei - Sasta (Aglionby, Santa ‘76 )
Alex Acquah - Bimus (Hamlyn, Santa ‘91)
Christian Adusu Donkor - Cdon (Canterbury, Santa ‘91)
Aziz Baako - Ancestor (Jubilee, Santa ‘97)
ADISADEL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER | MAY - JULY | 2022 EDITION