A Justice of the Appeal Court, Mrs. Angelina Mornah Domakyaareh says she is not happy about the growing indiscipline in a number of Senior High Schools in Ghana.
She has therefore charged students to be what she described as “willing partners to discipline” in order to be successful in life.
Justice Domakyaareh made the observation at the 9th speech and prize-giving day and the launch of 60th anniversary of St. Francis Girls’ Senior High School at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.
St. Francis Girls’ Senior High School was established in 1959 by the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the then Bishop of the Mission, Rt. Rev. Gabriel Champagne and the late Cardinal Peter Porekuu Dery in collaboration with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.), an international women religious congregation.
Justice (Mrs) Domakyaareh who was the guest of honour emphasized the need for students to eschew indiscipline otherwise; it will take them “on a life trajectory that is parallel to success”.
She recalled her days as a student in the 1960s and challenged the students to have hope for the future: “I say with “nostalgia” because it is a little over fifty-one (51) years ago that I myself as a little girl like some of the students here present, set my foot on the soils of this School as a Form One student. That was in 1967. Fast forward to today, and half a century has passed just like a twinkle of an eye. It is indeed very refreshing to be back home. I urge all you students sitting here to look even beyond 50 years from today because I am a testimony that you can still have useful life well beyond that time in future.”
The Assistant Head in charge of Administration, Rev. Sr. Martha Kello mentioned some of the challenges of the school as the ripping off of the roof a-160-capacity dormitory in May this year, the constant breaching of the fence wall to have access to the to the school, inadequate security personnel and a limited toilet facilities for students.
Rev. Sr. Martha Kello regretted the lack of a headmistress, saying “this noble school has been without a headmistress for six months now since the retirement of the former Headmistress”.
She expressed the hope that a substantive head will be appointed and posted to the school very soon.
The National President of St Francis of Assisi Old Girls’ Association (FOGA) Mrs. Fati Bodua Seidu said 59 years on, St Francis continue to churn out women who are excelling in all walks of life and stressed the need for the old students to give back to their alma mater.
Mrs. Seidu encouraged all old girls to contribute to a “legacy project” to be commissioned by November 2019, to climax the 60th Anniversary of the School.
The MCE for Jirapa, Christine Amadu Bonbanye called for a collective responsibility in the upbringing of children for them to develop their skills and help build the country.
Some deserving students and staff were honoured for their outstanding performance. Miss Cornelia Bayuo was adjudged the overall best student for Form Three.
The best student for the third year General Arts Department, was Miss Haifaawu Damba whilst Miss Gbene Samankina Badawesi was honoured as the top third year Business student.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
