50 Years of Academic Excellence: Nurturing Innovative Minds for Ghana’s Economic Growth
Felicitations
Nana Chairman, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education; Honourable John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Minister; Honourable Jean-Marie Formadi, Member of Parliament for Biakoye; Hon. Eric Oppong, District Chief Executive for Biakoye; our revered Nananom and Queen Mothers; Distinguished Guests; Board of Governors; Headmaster and Staff; Fellow Alumni; Students; Ladies and Gentlemen.
It fills my heart with profound pride and gratitude to stand before you today as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Worawora Secondary School—our alma mater, our foundation, and one of our lifelong sources of inspiration. Thank you for granting me the privilege to address you, our revered and distinguished participants, on this historic occasion.
Moments of Remembrance
Distinguished Chair, standing here today, memories flood back—memories of chalk-dusted classrooms, morning assemblies, the unforgettable Ninos Nights with songs such as “You are welcome oh Father Bingo”, and the solemn Sunday vesper services where we were clothed in white apparel. We also recall the weekend entertainment programmes, the popular pick-and-act, the occasional dance bands, and the special school choir of which some of us were members.
And lest I forget, who among us can ignore the legendary Gonda Barracks—where some of us (perhaps the notorious ones) were invited for those unprovoked 'disciplinary drills' at the hands of our seniors, especially after lights-out. Names like Senior Ofori Samuel (Akatopore), Senior Gadegbeku Vincent, and Senior Timinka readily come to mind.
Permit me, Nana Chairman, to mention a few more household names from our year groups. The '83 group included Richard Kissi (Mr. Bingo), Samuel Gyasi (Zatokyi), Williams Letsu (Kofizee), Richard Okyere (Allan), and Samuel Okyere (Akpakye).
The '84 group featured Isaac Mensah (Foyoo), Samuel Nana Wiafe (Agooji), Abiru Alidu (Ternnison), Anyizar Thimothy (Danblocker), Denteh Stephen (Ogo), Dei Samuel (Elayi), Dekpe Joseph (Dekpesukpe), Yirenkyi Stephen (Steve Wonder), Lucy Ahedor (Saratoga), and Amegbe Regina (Potoyo). The '86 group had Atsu, Agyaba, Paka Pee, and Alangachuuku Peeper. The '87 group included Dorleku Irene, Bernice Bula, Deborah Asare, Badu Mabel, Alex Out, Nana Dankwa Otempong, Boakye Richard (Ghanata), Daniel Addo, Dada Boat, Galey Noah, and the Okome brothers.
Who can forget the popular Banku Base, where most of us went for hot banku early in the morning before our first lessons?
Nana Chair, beyond academics, these encounters, experiences, and individuals shaped our fond memories of Worawora Secondary School. Thank you, dear alumni, for making WORASEC a special place that remains unforgettable in our hearts.
The Significance of the Golden Jubilee
Nana Chairman, fifty years! Half a century of teaching, nurturing, shaping minds, and transforming lives. A 50th anniversary offers three sacred opportunities: to celebrate our achievements, to reflect on our journey, and to renew our commitment to the future.
As the Akan say, “Sɛ wo werɛ fi na wo san kɔfa a, yennkyi”—it is not wrong to go back for what you have forgotten.
Our theme—“50 Years of Academic Excellence: Nurturing Innovative Minds for Ghana's Economic Growth”—calls us to think deeply about what true excellence means in a changing and competitive world.
Allow me to define Excellence as “a mindset of unwavering commitment to delivering value, driven by passion, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of perfection in every detail.”
And Innovation as “doing ordinary things in new ways that deliver greater value and higher results, more efficiently and effectively.”
Where excellence thrives, innovation grows. And where innovation grows, productivity, quality service delivery, and effective governance follow. This is how organisations and nations compete—locally and globally.
But excellence and innovation cannot exist without integrity. Integrity is the conscience of development.
If a student believes that he can buy examination papers before writing an exam, why would she study to excel? If a public official knows he can steal without consequence, why would he work diligently for the people? Such attitudes suffocate excellence.
Historical Reflections: The Journey So Far
Nana Chairman, Worawora Secondary School began as a modest dream—born from the determination of the people of Worawora to create educational opportunities for their children, especially when sending them to distant schools in Ho, Kpando, and beyond was costly and inconvenient.
What began as a local initiative grew into an institution that served students from neighbouring communities, the entire Volta Region, the Eastern Region, the Northern Region, Greater Accra, and beyond.
Today, as we mark 50 years, we recognize that this institution has sustained and even expanded its sphere of influence. On behalf of all alumni, I express deep gratitude to Nananom, the people of Worawora, our teachers, and our parents. Yeda mo nyinaa ase. You are the reason we stand where we are today.
Our journey was not an easy one. Even after two decades after its establishment, resources were scarce—few infrastructures, few qualified teachers, no science labs, and no alumni association. Yet what we lacked materially, we compensated with discipline, hard work, and vision.
Today, the challenges remain, especially for a school situated in an economically deprived area. Yet, to our young learners, I say: challenges are not obstacles—they are opportunities. They train you to solve problems, develop resilience, and gain experience. Remember that Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
Just as Kenyan runners dominate long-distance races because they train on rugged mountains, you too are being prepared by your environment to excel at the national level and globally.
A diamond, as the saying goes, “is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure.”
This very fact is consolidated in a Latin proverb that said, “per aspera ad Astra”. Or “through Hardships to the Stars”, meaning: every challenge that you face is guiding you towards something brighter, higher and extraordinary”.
A New Dawn: STEM Excellence and National Recognition
Nana Chairman, in recent years, Worawora Secondary School has risen to national prominence through its excellence in STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
This school has won national awards including: - STEMNOVATION Competition (2022) - STEMNOVATION Competition (2023) - National STEM School of the Year (2023)
Students have also developed practical solutions—affordable irrigation systems, clean water technologies, and digital tools for rural education.
WORASEC has proven that innovation can emerge from anywhere—even from regions with limited resources if granted the opportunity. With vision, hard work, discipline and mentorship, the impossible becomes possible.
To the teachers, mentors—especially Mr. Daniel Aboagye (Teacher Aboagye)—and all sponsors, we say: Well done!
Nana Chairman, with this strong record, I am convinced that the Honourable Minister of Education will look favourably on the call to upgrade WORASEC to a Category 'A' school. Worasec should therefore be resourced to serve as one of the schools in the Oti region that will feed the proposed technical University that the current Government has earmarked for Jasikan, which is just about 20 minutes' drive from here.
Education, Excellence, and Ghana's Development
Nana Chairman, Education is the engine of national transformation. But for education to drive sustainable development, it must be anchored on excellence, competence, values, and integrity.
True excellence is not merely about certificates. It is about character, diligence, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Without emphasis on values and integrity, excellence shall continue to be a hoax.
Unfortunately, mediocrity now competes with excellence, and corruption too often triumphs over integrity.
Where nepotism replaces merit, and where corruption goes unpunished, development cannot thrive.
Nana chairman, Ghana is currently witnessing a trend where political leadership contests are determined not by ideas, experience, or vision, but by who has more money to distribute. This can never lead to development— it is the auctioning of public office to the highest bidder(s), who would only end up, if successful, first to recoup their huge investments from the public purse by any means and also do trading with public offices and positions.
Nana chairman, corruption steals more than money. It steals opportunity, dreams, hope, and the future of the young people sitting before us.
Nana Chairman, we need to develop a comprehensive and effective ethical standards and codes of conduct for public and civil servants. We need a curriculum that teaches national values, ethics, and integrity from basic to secondary school.
As Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he grows up, he will not depart from it.”
As C.S. Lewis warns, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man a cleverer devil.”
Finally, Nana chairman, those who are proven to be corrupt should be banned from public office for at least 30 years together with their immediate family members. Also, a more aggressive naming-and-shaming strategy is needed.
I also propose that we prepare giant Bill Boards with photograph of those who have been proved to be corrupt and erect them on our major roads, in the cities and the home towns. Under their names and photographs, must be inscriptions such as: 'behold the king of corruption', 'behold the queen of corruption', behold the price of corruption', behold the princess of corruption' and other such titles depending on the gravity of the matter and the total amount involved.
Portions of the amount of money that shall be refunded by the affected corrupt individuals should be used to finance this special project. Nana chair, there is an urgent need to rethink the way we handle cases bothering on corruption in this country in order to make the fight against corruption more effective.
Nurturing Innovative Minds: The Way Forward
WORASEC must continue to embrace STEM and innovation as its identity.
We appeal to Government and the Ministry of Education to support the school with the resources needed to become a Category A Science School. The school's STEM achievements and recent WASSCE performance strongly justify this call.
Let us:
- Establish innovation clubs and digital labs.
- Forge partnerships with universities, alumni, and technology hubs.
- Promote project-based learning focused on community challenges.
To our students: be curious, be bold, and be honest. Innovation is born where curiosity meets integrity.
Call to Action: Building the Next 50 Years
As we celebrate today, let us dream about the next 50 years.
Let us envision WORASEC as a Centre of Excellence and Innovation for the Oti Region and Ghana at large.
Let us establish a Worawora Innovation Fund—a partnership among alumni, government, and the private sector—to support science projects, digital training, and entrepreneurship.
Conclusion: The Spirit of Excellence
Nana Chairman, in concluding under the theme “50 Years of Academic Excellence: Nurturing Innovative Minds for Ghana's Economic Growth,” I reaffirm that excellence, integrity, and innovation must become the foundations of our national life.
If we prioritize these values in our homes, schools, public offices, industries, and even in our churches, we will experience increased productivity, improved service delivery, reduced corruption, competitive local industries, and sustainable national development.
Excellence is not a gift—it is a habit. It is cultivated through discipline, hard work, and moral courage.
From humble beginnings, Worawora Secondary School has risen not because it had much, but because it believed in hard work, in learning, and in God.
As we step into the next 50 years, let us rededicate ourselves to excellence with integrity. Let us nurture a generation of Ghanaians who are not just brilliant, but honest; not just educated, but ethical; not just successful, but selfless.
May God bless Worawora Secondary School.
May God bless the people of Worawora and the Oti Region.
And may God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.
Thank you.
By: Martin K. Akotey (Alumnus, WORASEC)
A Professor of Governance and Development Studies
Faculty of Arts and Development Studies, Valley View University, Accra
Rector, Valley View University, Kumasi Campus.