Achimotan '73 Year Group marks 40th Anniversary

On September 13, 2008, the Old Achimotan Association 1973 Year Group will celebrate the 40th Year of entry into Achimota School. Our goal is to reach several Year Group members so that they can contribute to a School classroom painting project that we wish to undertake.

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY – ACHIMOTA CLASS OF 1973 & SIXTH FORM CLASS OF 1975!
Forty years ago on Friday, September 13, 1968, a class of eager fresh-faced young girls and boys were admitted to Achimota School – this was the Class of 1973.

The Class members entered Achimota with a mix of excitement and trepidation about what lay in store for them as freshmen or “Nino” boys and girls. Kofi Boateng, President of the Class of 1973, recalls that day as follows: “On that day, 13th September, 1968, we entered Achimota School with our "small, small" innocent faces and petite bodies, no beards, no moustaches etc. We were welcomed by a kind of El Nino weather that instantly baked us into Nino boys and girls. Being Ninoes, our initial plight was to go through the ritual of responding to commands and questions such as these: “Nino boy! Come here! What is your name? Which school are you from? In which House are you? What form?”

You were lucky if you had questions as simple as these but if you were not, as it happened to some of us, your bullying could take this form: “Nino boy, come here!!! What are the identification words of your personality?'' “Please, I don't understand.” "WHAT!! Did you pass the Common Entrance or you came through the back door? I mean what is your name? Okay, chop my back!! ......Stop. Kneel down!! Pray for my future wife!!”

These prayers were usually silent ones and only God knew the content of such "by force prayers"! Compared to other schools, we were not bullied at all -- we were treated with kid gloves on our first day.”

After five years of grueling academic work, chapel, competitions, debates, detention, “dotch”, entertainment, farming, fun, Founders' Days, games, gardening, gating, groundwork, gym, inspections, music, operas, plays, pop chains, prep, Red Cross, and “fatigue” for breaking school rules, the Class successfully graduated in June 1973. Some Class members continued on to Sixth Form at Achimota, and welcomed a fresh crop of Nino men and women who joined their ranks. Class of 1973 members have excelled in various fields: accounting, architecture, art, aviation, banking, bio-statistics, book illustration, business, construction, dentistry, economics, education, engineering, finance, fashion, geology, insurance, journalism, law, medicine (gynecology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, urology), music, nursing, surveying, writing; and are making great contributions to Ghana and the communities they live in worldwide. In addition, most are proud parents and some are grandparents!

The Old Achimotan Association (OAA) Class of 1973 is one of the most active OAA alumni groups. The group meets on the last Friday of each month at “Felicia's” in Cantonments, Accra, and class members have raised funds in past years to support Achimota School.

In 1998, the Class renovated the Art School to commemorate its 25th Anniversary of graduation from Achimota School. In 2003, the Class renovated the Junior Chemistry Laboratory; donated funds to the Achimota School Endowment Trust; and unveiled a dynamic and comprehensive website to commemorate its 30th Anniversary.

To commemorate our 40th Anniversary of entering Achimota School, the Class has pledged to undertake improvements of the classrooms. To all the Class members that have contributed over the years to make the Class of 1973 a stellar and shining example to Achimota School alumni, we say AYEEKOO!! Congratulations also to all members of the Class of 1973 – may God bless you and your families always! At this special time in our lives, our prayers and thoughts also go to the families of our beloved mates who are no longer with us. May their dear souls rest in eternal peace!

Roll Call - OAA Class of 1973 and Sixth Form Class of 1975

Gabriel Acheampong, George Acquaah, Mattford Adu Adade, Gina Addae, Millicent Adoquaye, Joyce Addo, William Adu-Krow, Sylvia Afrifa, Emmanuel Agbenyega, S. K., Agyeman, Nkansah K. Agyeman, Kwadwo K. Agyirey-Kwakye, Dinah Ado, Jeff Akpovwovwovwo, Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, Nana Assor Akainyah, Hilda Akore, David Abdul Kassem Alhassan, Fati Amandi, Krod Noah Amfo, Susan Amihere, Helena Amoakohene, Charles Kwaku Dua Anane, Samuel Anie, Henry Ankrah, Sylvia Ankrah, Adelaide Anthony, Elizabeth Anthony, Beatrix Appiah, Diana Appiah-Danquah, Ellis Armah, Ahinae Armar, Samuel E. Arthur, Emmanuel Asare, Danilo K. Asase, David Asem, Albert Lankwei Ashong-Lamptey, Bloomsfield Attipoe, Paul Sando Ayagiba, Ernest Aryeetey, Franklyn Ayensu, Enoch Tei Azu, Akotey Samuel Azu, Michael Badger, Ameyaw Baffour, Joseph Obisi Bampoe, Henry Bannerman, Nora Bannerman, Joyce Banson, Angela Barney, Lydia Bediako, Esi Bentsi-Enchill, Kwame Amoa Buahin, Evangeline Kwarley Buckle, Herbert Blankson, Kofi Blankson, Cyril Blavo, Patience Biney, Isaac Boamah, Isaac-N. Kofi Boateng, Samuel Eric Agyenim Boateng, Albert Boateng-Bediako, Merene Botsio, Joyce Bray, Raymond Adokwei Brown, Frederick Bruce-Tagoe, Yealla Cofie, Dzifa (French) Cudjoe; Joseph Dadzie, Bright Darko, Florence Djan, Bijou Doe, Betty Dzeha, Gloria Edusei, Isaac Eshun, Doreen Haizel, Alfred Gadzekpo, Peter Gbeho, Cudjoe Glymin, Theodore Hesse, Kwei M. Jones-Quartey, Victor Katani, Lawrence Kofi Karikari, Emily Kluvitse, Victor Kootin-Sanwu, Ione Korsah, Elikem Kotoku, Vera Kpeto, Margaret Krakue, Helen Kwakwa, Atta (George) Kwami, Yaa Korantemaa Kwapong, Alexander Yamoah Kyei, Charlotte Langdon, Ivy Laryea, Rosaline Laryea, Yaw Adu Marfo (Victor Manford), Kwabena (Asare Adair) Mate, Ian Mills, Valerie Nelson-Addy, Sedina Nyarko, Susanna Nettey, Lucy Nkansah, Mary Noble Nkrumah, Thomas Nukpe, Emmanuel Nyantekyi-Mensah, Emmanuel Nii Odai, Henry Odametey, Paul Odoi, Linda Naa Dzama Oddoye, George Yaw Ofei-Nkansah, Mawuena Ofori, Samuel Ohene-Adu, Freda Okine, Victor Opare-Addo, Daniel Nee Lantey Opintan, Comfort Oracca-Tetteh, Regina Osafo, Akosua Osei, Sylvia Osei, Alice Otu , George Owusu, Owusu, Freda Irene Poku, James Quaidoo, Ebenezer Tei Quartey, E. P. N. K. (Phillip) Quartey, John Segu Quartey, Audrey Quaye, Helena Quist-Therson, Elizabeth Saakwa-Mante, Bismarck Sackey, Sheila Sampson, Gosford Akilagpa Sawyerr, Kofi Sefa-Boakye, Juliana Somuah, Wilhemina Sowah, Amowi Muriel Sutherland, Cynthia Tackie, Irene Tackie, Cynthia Tagoe, Lena Grace Tagoe, Lena Sophia Tagoe, Kati Teague, Lawrence Tedam, Margaret Tetteh, Margaret Teye-Botchway, Christine Tonugble, Albert Torgbor Torto-Doku, Isaac Twum-Boafo, Sheila Vanderpuye, Wallace-Bruce, William Wartemberg, Adelaide Welsing, Nketia Yankey ∙ Sixth Form Class of 1975: Jonathan Abossey, Eric Agyeman, Karen Akiwumi, S. C. Allotey, Andrew Amoah, Atuahene, Anna Bossman, Casely Dorymu, Sulemana Futa, M. F. Gaisie, A. M. Y. Kwarteng, Johnson Manu, Samuel H. Mills, Nii Otu Nartey, Anita Ofori, Edward Okine, George Oparah, E. Otoo, George Sarpong, Marilena Tafrarello, Emmanuel Adum Winful, Frederick Archie Winful ∙Departed: Eustace Addo, Obed Ernest Andoh, Charles Balaguyetime, Dick Turpin Essuman, S. K. Mensah, Oseiwaa Ofosu-Appiah, Rita Norley Omaboe, David Quao, Philemon Quaye, Selwyn Sackey, Maude Torto, Yaw Twum-Barima, Anthony Ziem Yaan-Tol.

For more information, please visit our OAA 1973 website.
“Congratulations to the Class of 1973!” - “Go forth as living waters to a thirsty land!”