By Jones Anlimah
Wife of the Vice President of the Republic, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, has joined management and students of Ola Senior High School at a durbar in Ho, in the Volta region, to climax the school’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
Speaking at the durbar, Mrs Bawumia highlighted the importance of embracing technology and entrepreneurship in education to prepare students for the future.
The theme for the event was “Reminiscing 70 Years of Holistic Catholic Education: The Role of Stakeholders in Embracing Technology and Entrepreneurship for the Future.”
OLA Senior High School was founded on 1st February, 1954, at Keta by Bishop Anthony Konings, then Bishop of the Keta Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, with 35 students. Initially known as “Queen of Apostles Secondary School,” the school was later renamed “Our Lady of Apostles” (OLA) Senior High School.
The school’s current population stands at over 4,097. This comprises 3,962 boarding students, with 135 day students. The establishment of the school in the region has contributed to the development of girl-child education in the country and has also brought about the situation where girls from the region had to travel over 200 miles to Cape-Coast and other places to access sister schools.
Over the years, the school has achieved excellent academic records in the final examinations of the West African Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Since its establishment 70 years ago, Ola Senior High School has produced some of the country’s best human resources who are serving the country in various top positions.
70 years in the life of any institution is no mean achievement. It was for this reason that the management of the school decided to celebrate the school’s 70th Anniversary in grand style. The theme for the 70th anniversary celebration was “Reminiscing 70 Years of Holistic Catholic Education: The Role of Stakeholders in Embracing Technology and Entrepreneurship for the Future.”
The Head Prefect of the school, Clara Akpene Adoboe, urged parents to show interest in the academic performance of their wards. She also urged his fellow students to work hard to justify the huge investment in them by both their parents and the government.
The headmistress of the school, Mrs Benedicta Agbezudor, commended government for improving the school’s infrastructure through the Ghana Education Trust Fund and the Ministry of Education over the years. She assured that the school will continue to win more academic laurels through sound teaching and disciplined studentship.
She, however, called for assistance from government on some major challenges impeding the school’s academics. “All our existing classrooms cannot effectively accommodate the over 4,000 girls. Two of our traditional dormitories need urgent renovations or reconstruction. Our two old buses can’t travel outside Ho. We appeal to government through her Excellency and the Education Minister to place Ola Senior High School, Ho, first on the list of schools to receive vehicles,” she appealed.
The Volta regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, highlighted government efforts to promote education, technology, entrepreneurship, and the collaborative approach between the government, educational institutions, and stakeholders to ensure the region’s youth are equipped with the necessary skills for success.
“And with the support of the Ghana Education Service, with the support of GETFUND, with the support of Minister of Education and with the support of the Presidency to make sure that we do whatever we can to address your concerns,” he assured.
The Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, lamented the absence of holistic Catholic education in all mission-founded schools and called for a reversal of this trend.
The wife of the Vice President of the Republic, Mrs Samira Bawumia, said government was committed to enhancing education through innovative approaches, aligning with the theme’s focus on leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to drive academic excellence.
She emphasised that harnessing the power of technology would not only enhance learning experiences but also equip students with essential digital skills crucial for success in the 21st-century workforce.
“We recognise the importance of integrating technology into education not as a replacement for traditional values but as a tool to enhance learning, forster innovation and prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century,” she said.
She added, “Ghana’s digital agenda, under the leadership of Vice President His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has significantly transformed our economy and governance, making strides towards efficiency and transparency. These efforts have led to remarkable achievements, including the rapid growth of the mobile money market and enhanced public service delivery.”
Earlier, Mrs Bawumia broke ground for the construction of a dormitory as a legacy project to help reduce overcrowding and shore up the infrastructure deficits of the school.
Some students and staff of the school were recognised for their academic excellence and meritorious service to the growth of the school.