Ofori Panin SHS launches 50th anniversary celebrations

Accra, June 30, GNA - Ofori Panin Senior High School (OPASS) at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region on Thursday launched its 50th anniversary in Accra under the theme: 9350 Years of Quality Education in Co-educational Senior High School for National Development".

Speaking at the launch, Mr Kweku Kyei-Brobbey, Headmaster of OPASS, praised the founding fathers for their foresight and knowledge.

He noted that the School, which started with 14 students in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area, presently had a student population of 2,150 with 1,183 girls and 967 boys.

He said since the inception of OPASS, it had been branded as a centre of academic excellence and character moulding for young boys and girls from all parts of the country.

"The School has produced first class citizens, who have taken their rightful places in their field of work and are impacting positively on their generation."

He lauded OPASS in its achievements in the 2010 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) results in which it recorded its best result ever where 100 per cent was recorded in 22 out of the 27 subjects registered.

Mr Kyei-Brobbey noted that as part of the 50th anniversary celebration, the School had decided to complete its infrastructural projects targeted at giving the OPASS a facelift.

Some of the projects earmarked for completion include a dining hall, assembly hall complex, re-gravelling of the streets in the school and the construction of major buildings.

The Headmaster said the School was financially constrained and needed financial support to tackle its numerous projects and urged the government, PTA, old students and well-wishers to come to the aid of the School.

He praised government for the construction of a four-unit boys' dormitory block and the completion of a 12-unit two-storey classroom block started a few years ago.

"We have also benefited from a 72-seater GETFund bus which has improved the social and academic activities of the School."

Mr Stephen Aiddoo, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), praised OPASS for its contribution to the education of persons in the Akyem state and the nation as a whole.

"OPASS since its inception has transformed many lives from within the Akyem state and other parts of the country," he said.

He urged staff of the School to show more dedication towards their work and urged students to be dedicated to their academic work.

Some of the programmes earmarked for the 50th anniversary celebration, which will be held from November 16 to 27, include debates, clean-up exercises and a singing competition.