T.I. Ahmadiyya holds 60th anniversary

The Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, has said that the 60 years of Kumasi T.I Ahmaddiya Senior High School (SHS) without any kind of students' unrest was an enviable record worthy of emulation. He said the record of the school indicated its stand for sound academic performance, outstanding achievements in sports and good student-staff relations. The Vice-President said this in an address read for him by Mr Alex Tettey Enyo, the Minister of Education at the 60th speech and prize-given day of the school in Kumasi on Saturday. "Sixty Years of Discipline and Academic Excellence" was the theme. He said the theme for the celebration should afford them the opportunity to take stock and planned ahead. He said the pioneers of the school have given it a distinctive character and it should be the duty of the present generation to uphold it by working even harder. The Vice President assured them of the Government's support for the maintenance of the school's existing infrastructure so that it continues to provide the manpower needed for development. Dr Elias K. Sory, the Director General of Health Service, a former student of the school said there is religious diversity on the school campus saying: "It comes as no surprise that two great pastors, the Right Rev. Dr Sam Prempeh and Right Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong Manso passed through the school", he said. Dr Sory advised the students to be more disciplined and let hard work be their hallmark. The Headmaster, Mr Yusif Agyare said the school started with 25 students and seven teachers by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in January 1950. The school now has a student population of 1,840. He paid glowing tribute to the Parent Teacher Association and the founding fathers of the school, especially the late Asantehene, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, who provided land, laid the foundation stone and also contributed one hundred British Pounds in support of the construction of the initial buildings. He said the school's academic performance as well as sports development had continued to excel. He said the school needs land for further expansion. Nana Adu Gyamfi, the Adontenhene of Asanteman, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said told the students to study hard. Alhaji Justice Saeed Kwaku Gyan, who chaired the function, said the Mission set up the school in line with the Holy Quran's teaching about the acquisition of knowledge. He stressed the need for equal attention on the promotion of girl and boy child education to ensure effective development of the nation's human resource development.