The Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls’ Secondary School at Kenyasi recently climaxed its 40th Anniversary Celebration on the theme: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), a tool for Girl-Child Empowerment.
Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso congratulated the School on the milestone attained and expressed gratitude to the Founders, and all who had contributed to its growth.
He advised the students to eschew all forms of examination malpractice which he described as a very serious issue that had threatened and eroded the gains of educational provision in Ghana.
“Make use of the opportunities that the School offers you in your formative period to prepare for your future. Do not depend on fraudulent means to excel in your examinations, but make judicious use of your time to study hard in preparation for your examinations.”
Bishop Atuahene who was the special Guest of Honour, noted that examination malpractices had become so endemic especially in the Brong-Ahafo Region, and appealed to all stakeholders; students, parents, teachers, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Officials to curb the debilitating menace.
He urged the students to be law abiding, determined, devoted and disciplined.Rev. Sr. Antoinette Abiwu, the Headmistress, gave a brief history of the School, paying glowing tributes to the Chief of Kenyasi II, Nana Odeneho Dadieako Kwabena Nsiah Ababio II and his elders for their vision of establishing an all-girl school of excellence, the first in the Brong Ahafo Region.
She lauded them for planting the mustard seed which had become a big tree giving life and livelihood to many girls from all over Ghana and beyond and for donating the land.
She said the Chief approached the then Bishop of the Diocese of Sunyani, Most Rev. James Owusu of Blessed Memory who in turn contacted the Our Lady of Apostles Sisters to establish and run the School.
The Headmistress said the School started on September 27, 1974 with 34 students but currently has 1, 040 students with the staff strength of 119. She added that the School was absorbed into the Government Public System in September, 1976.
Sr. Abiwu said the School had excelled in academics and sports in spite of the numerous challenges facing the School which included: lack of ICT Centre, administration block, abandoned GETfund projects, effect of the dusty road (mining routes) in front of the School on the health of the staff and students, and encroachment on the School land, appealing to Corporate Bodies, NGOs and Philanthropists to come to their aid.
Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, in a keynote address said empowering the women through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would enable them carry out more effectively and with ease their manifold responsibilities as a wives, mothers, carrier women, and house keepers and still have time for socialization and other recreational activities.
Prof. Mrs. Awuah who was the Guest Speaker appealed to heads of Schools, Institutions, Churches, corporate bodies and the government to resort to solar energy generation to mitigate the power crisis in the country.
Dr. Adjei Henneh, Regional Director of Ghana Education Service (GES), urged the students to concentrate on their studies, use the internet especially the social media responsibly to avoid distraction.
There were congratulatory messages from the Past OLA Girls Association (POGA-K) and the Traditional Councils, Kenyasi I & Kenyasi II.
The students entertained the guests with cultural displays, poetry recital and dance drama.
The ceremony was under the Chairmanship of Prof. James Hawkins Ephraim, the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University College, Ghana. Rev. Fr. Felix Twumasi, the School Chaplain led in the opening and closing prayer while the School Choir gave a special song rendition.
Highlight of the ceremony included the cutting of the Anniversary Cake and the presentation of awards to some staff members and individuals for the outstanding performances, and students who excelled in various areas both in academic and extracurricular activities.
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