S. T. Ampofo at 100: Celebrating a legendary Headmaster

Samuel Twum Ampofo (ST), legendary Headmaster of Ofori Panin Secondary School (OPASS), has turned 100. To God be the glory.

ST exemplifies what true leadership is. The late Dr John Edmund Haggai defines leadership as: “The discipline of deliberately exerting special influence within a group to move it toward goals of beneficial permanence that fulfil the group’s real needs.”
This is the essence of what S. T. Ampofo stood for.

I invite you to meet the centenarian about whom I wrote the following in three of my books: “I wish to place on record my gratitude to Mr S. T. Ampofo, my secondary school Headmaster at Ofori Panin. His sense of discipline, integrity and his desire to see his students become complete in all aspects of life, have contributed greatly in shaping me into what I am today.”

About 15 years ago, I was seated next to my friend and classmate, Ambassador Kwasi Baah-Boakye, during his late mother’s thanksgiving service at Asiakwa, when he whispered to me: “Have you seen OGA?”

To the two of us, and any of our contemporaries from OPASS, “OGA” could only refer to one person on earth – our Headmaster, ST. I responded in the negative. Kwasi then added, “There he is, at the organ.” I turned in the direction he pointed and, lo and behold, ST was at the organ, playing in accompaniment to the choir and the packed congregation.
What a joy it was for both of us to reconnect. I followed him and his wife home after the service ended, and ST could not hide his pleasure at seeing me.

S. T. Ampofo became Headmaster of Ofori Panin Secondary School, Kukurantumi, in September 1963—the same year I entered the school as a 12-year-old. OPASS, as the school is popularly known, was then in its third year, having been established in 1961 by Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as one of the Ghana Education Trust Schools. Others in that category include Swedru, Tema, Mfantsiman, Mpraeso, Yaa Asantewaa and Accra Girls.

Born at Asiakwa on 1st August 1925, S. T. Ampofo trained as a teacher at the Presbyterian Training College, Akropong Akuapem, and continued at the Seminary there to become a Catechist. He graduated with an honours degree in History from the University College of the Gold Coast in 1957. He taught at Abetifi Training College before being appointed Assistant Headmaster at Swedru Secondary School, the first Ghana Education Trust School, in 1960.

It was from Swedru that ST was appointed Headmaster of OPASS in 1963. He replaced Mr Kwame Adwedaa, the founding Headmaster, who had been reassigned to the newly established Ghana Atomic Energy Commission as one of its pioneering scientists.

OPASS was then a small school, only in its infancy. Yet ST proved to be a visionary leader. It has rightly been said that leadership begins when a vision emerges. He was determined to make his students believe in themselves—to be prepared and adequate enough to rub shoulders with students from the more established schools. Above all, he wanted us to become future leaders.

I remember the “Open House” discussions he held with students on the school crest and motto, “Dwen na Som” (Think and Serve). He was convinced that his mission was to instil in us a high sense of discipline and integrity.

Whether by coincidence or design, the earliest crop of teachers were brilliant and dedicated. ST inspired and carried them along on his mission. Among them were:

• Robert Addo-Fening (later Professor at the University of Ghana)
• V. B. Freeman (later Headmaster of Accra Academy)
• K. Twum-Danso (who succeeded ST as Headmaster)
• W. E. Amoah (Senior Housemaster, formerly of PRESEC, Odumase)
• Gabriel Etu (Assistant Headmaster)
• J. B. Ofosu (Mathematics)
• Boniface Adjei (later Headmaster at New Juaben)
• Susan Asomaning (American wife of Dr E. J. A. Asomaning of CRIG)

Somehow, ST also secured a regular stream of US Peace Corps and Canadian volunteers to teach at the school, perhaps due to the pristine environment around Kukurantumi and Tafo, home to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.

These were the days before television. Radio reigned supreme, and ST made sure to brief us on global developments, especially from the BBC World Service. I remember the morning he announced the death of Dr Albert Schweitzer. He told us about Schweitzer’s medical and humanitarian work among lepers in Central Africa. ST believed in learning from the lives of pacesetters. To this end, he regularly invited eminent personalities to speak at the school.

Distinguished visitors included Mr William Ofori Atta (Paa Willie), Prof. K. Twum-Barima, Prof. Samuel Sey, Mr T. A. Osae (Prempeh College), and Mr A. A. Beeko (PRESEC; later Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana).

ST also loved sports. With his support and under Coach W. E. Amoah, OPASS excelled in hockey, football, athletics and table tennis. One standout athlete was Hilda Kwabua (now Mrs Hilda Bromley), who gained national prominence by setting a national record in the 880 yards.

Because OPASS was so new, Mr Ampofo wore many hats. He was an innovator whose admission policy ensured nationwide representation. In our time, we even had two students from Kenya on Ghana Government scholarships.

“Yɛdaa Awia” (We Slept in the Afternoon)
Tuesday, 11th August 2015, was a glorious day for five of us old students, Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo (former High Commissioner to the UK), Justice K. N. Aduama Osei (Court of Appeal, retired), Ambassador Kwasi Baah-Boakye, Major Fred Twum-Acheampong (retd.) and me, as we met over lunch to reminisce.

Out of the blue, someone pointed at Fred and said, “Yɛdaa awia!” (“We slept in the afternoon!”) Fred took us back in time to January 1966, when President Nkrumah inaugurated the Akosombo Dam. That night, a misunderstanding at entertainment night led to chaos while ST was away. Upon his return around 9:30pm, he was horrified to find students running riot.

He lined us up and, in his trademark style, called each one by name. When he got to Danso-Boafo, he exclaimed, “Are you bringing Kyebi and Abomosu behaviour here?” Seeing Aduama Osei, a pastor’s son, he cried, “Eei, you too?” Then Fred, when asked why he wasn’t in bed, famously replied, “Yɛdaa awia!” The laughter that erupted at lunch that day was priceless.

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22, NKJV).

Legacy of discipline and integrity

ST always urged us to live with honesty, integrity and transparency. Before exams, he’d remind us:

“It is better to fail honourably than to pass dishonourably.”

During assemblies, his conviction was evident as he sang hymns with deep meaning. His students today can be found across all sectors—Supreme Court judges, academics, military and police officers, engineers, doctors, civil servants, bankers, parliamentarians and executives.

We are living proof of the seeds ST planted. His motto “Dwen na Som” lives on. He and his late wife, Margaret Lillian, married in 1951 and had three daughters, including Nancy, a lawyer and proud OPASS alumna.

I conclude with one of ST’s favourite scriptures:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
(Psalm 139:23–24, KJV)

This verse has had a lasting impact on me.

S. T. Ampofo has lived a life of purpose and excellence. We thank God for his life and celebrate his centenary. Ghana and Africa need more leaders like him.

The writer is a lawyer, management consultant and author.
He served as Adviser to two Governors of the Bank of Ghana.
Email: ksenior51@gmail.com