Achimota School - More On Achimota School

More On Achimota School

Achimota, originally known as the Prince of Wales College and School, was formally opened on January 28, 1927 by the then Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg. The guest of honor at the opening ceremony was Edward VIII, the then Prince of Wales, after whom the school was named. As one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind, known for its high academic standards and culture, it trained Pan-Africanist leaders during Sub-Saharan Africa's struggle for independence from colonial powers. From its student body and teaching college emerged many notable African personalities, including several heads of state, politicians, academicians, scientists, doctors, lawyers, engineers, educators, architects, diplomats, computer scientists, agriculturists, accountants, artists, business leaders and industrialists. In a 2004 tribute to Akora Adrian Sherwood, a longtime English master at Achimota, the Ghana High Commission in London praised Achimota, quoting the words of the school's founding doctrine, for enabling its graduates "to know the life that is life indeed and go forth from it as living waters to a thirsty land."

Music has always played a very important part in the life of the school. Achimota’s achievements in attaining a high standard in this field led to the establishment of the Ghanaian National Symphony Orchestra and the department of music and performing art education at the University of Education, Winneba. From its inception Achimota placed special emphasis on the value of the use of one's hands in agriculture, technical and vocational. Achimota has concerned itself to set a standard of excellence in whatever field of education that meets the national needs.

Th legacy of Achimota School is not entirely spotless, as some of the heads of state she has produced have had dictatorial tendencies, notably Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and to a lesser extent, Ghana's founding president Kwame Nkrumah and, later, Jerry Rawlings.