Aburi Girls’ Senior High School has honoured two former headmistresses of the school, Rosemond Bampo and Grace Ansa-Otu.
The school named a 300-bed students’ dormitory block after Ms Bampo, and posthumously named the Royal Park House after the late Mrs Ansa-Otu.
The gesture was meant to immortalise the dedicated leadership and service of the two headmistresses.
Ms Bampo became the headmistress of the school from 2011 to 2016, while Mrs Ansa-Otu served from 1988 to 2001.
Celebrating legacy
At the dedication ceremony, the headmistress of Aburi Girls’ SHS, Wilhelmina Obuobisa-Atakora, said the honours recognised the selfless service, transformative vision and lasting impact of the two former heads.
She highlighted some of their contributions to academic excellence, infrastructure development and the overall growth of the school.
Achievements
She said under Ms Bampo’s leadership, the school saw a marked rise in academic performance, with increasing numbers of students scoring 8A1s, 7A1s and 6A1s in the WASSCE.
In 2015, the school was named the Eastern Region’s Best in Science, Best in Mathematics and Overall Best School, following the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) assessment of WASSCE results from 2011 to 2015 in its first National Best Schools Awards, she said.
Among others, Ms Bampo mobilised support from government, the PTA, Aburi Old Girls’ Association (AOGA), well-wishers and the school’s own internally generated funds to undertake major projects, including an 18-unit classroom block, a 300-bed dormitory with two housemistress apartments and the renovation of two kitchens and pantries.
“Two ICT laboratories were refurbished and equipped with computers and related devices, while the Physics and Biology Labs as well as the Food Lab and Clothing Room of the Home Economics Department also underwent renovation and refurbishment.”
“Ms Bampo further replaced the KVIP toilets then used by students with modern facilities, being a 20-seater biofil unit and 70-seater water-closet facilities across the Houses,” she said.
Academic Work
For Mrs Ansa-Otu’s tenure, Mrs Obuobisa-Atakora said the school maintained strong academic performance at the GCE ‘O’/‘A’ Levels and SSSCE.
She said a major highlight was Aburi Girls’ participation in the maiden 1993/1994 National Science and Maths Quiz (then the Brilliant Science and Maths Quiz), where the school emerged southern-sector runners-up, effectively national semi-finalists, in what remains the school’s best NSMQ performance.
Water supply
During the 1980s and 1990s, when severe water shortages affected the entire Akuapem ridge, she said Mrs Ansa-Otu took measures to sustain school life.
Among other achievements, “she secured a PTA-provided water tanker, constructed two large concrete rainwater-harvesting tanks, still in use today, and initiated the laying of pipelines with electric pumps from the Dawene Dam at ‘Jamaicaso’ in Aburi to provide a more reliable water supply.”
“Let this Serve as an Inspiration”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, assisted by the Board Chairman of the school, Rev. Ebenezer Acheampong Asiedu, performed the dedication and unveiling of the plaques on the houses.
He said the honour recognised the exceptional service of the former Headmistresses, adding that such recognition was reserved for truly dedicated leadership and intended to inspire others to serve well.
