Ernest Bako WUBONTO
The Mfantsipim Senior High School 150th Anniversary Planning Committee (APC) has officially commenced the countdown to a monumental milestone, unveilling an ambitious programme of events to celebrate the school’s sesquicentennial.
The anniversary, themed ‘A legacy of excellence, leadership and service to inspire the future’, not only marks 150 years of Mfantsipim but also commemorates the sesquicentenary of secondary education in Ghana.
Founded in 1876 by the Wesleyan Mission, Mfantsipim stands as Ghana’s oldest secondary school dedicated to only boys and became the cradle of formal secondary education in the Gold Coast.
The APC Chairman, Capt. John B. Yamoah, during a pre-launch press briefing in Accra emphasised that the sesquicentennial is framed not just as a school milestone but also a national celebration for a century and a half of educational progress.
“This sesquicentennial is therefore more than a school anniversary; it is a national celebration of 150 years of secondary education in Ghana. For a century and a half, Mfantsipim has shaped generations of leaders, statesmen, professionals, academics and innovators – who have served Ghana and the world with distinction,” he said.
He revealed that the year-long celebration, running until December 2026, is anchored on five key pillars: celebrating the school’s legacy, strengthening academics, improving infrastructure, deepening alumni engagementand contributing to national education.
Key Events and Launch
The 150th anniversary official launch will take place on April 11th 2025 in Accra, with an invitation extended to Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman to grace the occasion. This will be followed by a Founders’ Day commemoration in Cape Coast two weeks later.
The grand climax is scheduled for November 2026, featuring a two-week festival of activities culminating in the grand anniversary durbar and speech day on November 14th 2026.
The event is expected to be graced by President John Dramani Mahama and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
Infrastructure and Legacy Projects
To mark this historic journey, the APC has identified several legacy projects: including upgrading residential facilities, establishing a historical museum and erecting a 150th-anniversary monument. Due to the expected massive turnout, the main speech day event will be held at the Kwabotwe Centre for Sports Excellence (school field) currently undergoing its fourth phase of construction.
Intellectual Property and Fundraising
The committee issued a firm reminder that the MFA@150 logo, commemorative cloth and songs are trademarked intellectual property. Unauthorised commercial exploitation will face legal sanctions.
To fund the ambitious legacy projects, a five-tier fundraising strategy has been launched. The public and alumni are encouraged to contribute via the dedicated short code *920*1876# across all local networks.
“The success of Mfantsipim@150 depends on all of us – old boys, staff, students, parents, the Methodist Church Ghana, corporate partners, traditional authorities and the people of Cape Coast and Ghana. Together, let us honour the past, celebrate the present and secure the future of this great institution,” Capt. Yamoah concluded.
The Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES) and an old student of the school, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, described the anniversary as a platform to assess and advance secondary education nationally.
Using Mfantsipim as a benchmark, he said GES will strengthen STEM, digital learning, teacher development and access to quality education and ensure that such standards are replicated across the country to meet 21st-century demands.
Methodist Church Priest the Rt Rev. Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey echoed that mission schools were established not merely for literacy but for moral and spiritual transformation, hence placing high emphasis on values such as integrity, empathy, hard work and Godliness in training students – which old boys of Mfantsipim (MOBA) have demonstrated in high places.
For his part, the school’s headmaster, Very Rev. Ebenezer K. Aidoo, described the anniversary as a celebration, a call to action and an investment in the future.
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