GSTS Honours First Mayor of Tema Ing. F. W. Tuyee, and Three Other Distinguished Alumni

The Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), in collaboration with the GSTS Alumni Association, has posthumously honoured the first Mayor of Tema Municipality, Ing. Francis Wouland Tuyee, for his pioneering contributions to engineering, indigenous industrialization, education and national development.

The recognition was conferred during the 2026 GSTS Founders’ Day Distinguished Alumni Lecture and Awards, held as part of activities marking the school’s 117th anniversary and Speech and Prize-Giving Day celebrations.

Ing. Tuyee, a member of the GSTS Class of 1954 and Opong House (H4), was honoured alongside three other distinguished Giants — former Chief of Naval Staff Commodore Stephen George Obimpeh (Rtd.) ’61-H1, Ing. Seth Ahiekpor ’69A-H1, and Prof. Yaw Yeboah ’69/’71-H2.

The event, chaired by Gt. Prof. Anthony Simons, celebrated alumni whose professional achievements and commitment to service embody the values and traditions of Ghana Secondary Technical School.

Pioneer engineer, industrialist and nation builder

Born on September 26, 1926, Ing. Francis Wouland Tuyee was a pioneering Ghanaian engineer, industrialist, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose work contributed significantly to the development of Ghana’s manufacturing sector.

After graduating with distinction from GSTS in 1954, he received a government scholarship to pursue higher education in Italy, where he studied Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, graduating with First Class Honours.

Following professional experience in Italy, he returned to Ghana and became Head of the Engineering Department at the Tema Oil Refinery. His passion for indigenous industrialisation later led him to establish Tuyee Manufacturing Company Limited in 1968, becoming the first Ghanaian to manufacture chalk locally. The company subsequently expanded into the production of several industrial products and machinery.

Ing. Tuyee also made history as the first Mayor of Tema Municipality and served on the boards of a number of national institutions, including the Tema Oil Refinery, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Association of Ghana Industries.

His relationship with GSTS remained particularly strong throughout his life. For several decades, he supplied chalk produced by his company to the school free of charge, supporting teaching and learning until the school transitioned from chalkboards to whiteboards and marker pens.

His commitment to his alma mater went beyond material support. In 1978, he travelled from Tema to Takoradi to help mediate during a period of student unrest at GSTS, contributing to the restoration of calm through dialogue and counsel. He also remained an active member of the GSTS Alumni Association and readily supported the school whenever called upon.

Ing. Tuyee, who passed away on September 5, 2021, is remembered as a distinguished son of Mother TESCON whose life reflected innovation, integrity, philanthropy and selfless service.

The 2026 Distinguished Alumni Lecture and Awards form part of GSTS’s 117th anniversary celebrations under the theme, “GSTS @ 117: Developing Resilient Leaders Through Science, Technology and Character.”