By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Headmaster of Kumasi Academy, Samuel Kwame Gato, has appealed to the Ministry of Education for urgent infrastructural intervention to augment the school’s limited facilities ahead of the admission of new students.
The school, popularly known as Kumaca, has been allocated 1,800 first-year students who are expected to arrive on campus from Friday, October 17, 2025, to begin their secondary education. Most of them will be boarding students, but accommodation remains limited.
Speaking at the handing over of a renovated four-classroom block by the old students, Mr Gato noted that the new intake will increase the school’s population to over 4,000, putting significant pressure on the already overstretched infrastructure.
Founded in 1957 by the Ghana Baptist Convention as one of its flagship educational projects, Kumasi Academy has grown into one of the leading second-cycle institutions in the Ashanti Region.
The school has made remarkable strides in both academic and extracurricular activities and has produced many graduates who have contributed to Ghana’s socio-economic development.
However, the steady increase in student enrolment has outpaced the available infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, auditoriums, and staff accommodation.
The headmaster appealed to the government to complete some structures whose construction began over a decade ago to help ease the strain when the new students arrive.
“We also have two structures under construction, one 400-capacity dormitory that started in 2016 and a library and ICT lab that began in 2008. We’ve already written to the authorities to come and complete them so we can absorb more students and make teaching and learning more effective,” Mr Gato appealed.
He also called for the urgent provision of classroom furniture to enhance academic activities.
Mr Gato emphasised that addressing the infrastructure deficit requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, including old students, to expand the school’s facilities and accommodate the growing population.
He expressed appreciation to the old students for their continued support and assured them that management has implemented adequate measures to instill discipline and protect both staff and students.
While awaiting government intervention, the old students have been responding to the school’s infrastructure needs by financing new projects and upgrading existing facilities.
The Global Old Students Association, Akunini, has already built and handed over a fully equipped science laboratory for the study of physics, chemistry, and biology. They are also expanding the school’s dining hall to accommodate all boarding students at once, rather than in shifts.
The expansion project, costing about GH₵600,000, involves modernising the dining hall and related facilities.
The immediate past Global President of the Old Students Association, Dr Dapaah Siakwan, said the initiative reflects their belief that providing quality education is a shared responsibility among the government, parents, and old students.
“We’re all reminded that education is a collective responsibility between government, local communities, parents, and past students. The Akunini 1975 Year Group has done its part, just as we did ours when it was our turn,” Dr Siakwan said.
Since its establishment 68 years ago, Kumaca has produced over 30,000 graduates.
Meanwhile, the 1975 Year Group of Akunini has completed and handed over a renovated Form One classroom block, one of the oldest on campus, at a cost of GH₵500,000.
The group’s leader, Osei Boakye Acheampong, said the gesture was part of their commitment to giving back to the school.
“The infrastructure is getting old, some of it dates back to before 1957. We need to upgrade it so that teaching and learning can be enhanced,” he stated.
