From Gambaga to Accra, from Wiawso to Keta, we are brothers and our mother is the school. She will guide us all and each, so to learn that we may teach, and to subjugate ourselves that we may rule. Play the game, shout her name, spread her fame afar. She is the head of all the hosts, she is the school of whom we boast, she is the glory of the coast. Achimota!
The above visionary inspirational and unifying words are the content of the famous song of Achimota School. The school hymn is Grey City of the Outlaws Hill.
Achimota School crest is the black and white keys of the piano. Ut Omnes Unum Sint, which translates from Latin ‘That all may be one’ is the school motto. Akora, which means matured is the title of Old Achimotans. Among the great ideals for which Achimota stands, is the most critical third line; Respect for all that is of true and lasting value in the old African culture, beliefs and ways. This third line of Achimota’s ideals is preceded by ‘The best minds and bodies which God has given us’ and ‘An equal opportunity for girls with boys in education’.
The preceding paragraphs are the summary of the Achimotan Brand, a brand of equal peerage with any in the world. The ubiquitous Achimotan Brand is of veritable quality and substance. From academia to zoology, art and culture to science and technology, politics to sports, the unconquered spirit of Achimota is as enigmatic and charming as its name. Achimota, named after the Ga name of its location, means ‘we don’t mention anybody’s name’. Achimota, both a residential and educational institution, is magnificently and regally rooted on the hill of Achimota forest.
The depth of her immeasurable foundation, both in physical planning and program content, is only comprehended by the cultured eye. Symbolism, language of sophistry and culture, is deeply embedded in her elegantly serene, yet imposing enclave.
Achimota’s matchless annual calendar, has the flagship of founders day, held at the forecourt of the hugely symbolic and architecturally imposing Administration Block on the first Saturday of every March. This is preceded by the popular party of Friday night torchlight and bonfire. Annual memorial and thanksgiving church service follows at the open armed Aggrey Chapel, located on the spine from Ad Block through the arboretum.
Founded in 1927, the triumvirate founding fathers, Guggisberg, Aggrey and Fraser are immortalized through the founders day, the school cloth and branded physical structures. The big three, also have their sculpture busts at the open landscape between the Ad Block and Aggrey Chapel.
The monumental Achimota project was the first major step towards independence of Ghana and Africa. This is the heritage of the school of whom we boast.
A purposely thought through co educational institution conceived and built to groom both boys and girls from all over Africa, who by all accounts were the ones who would take over the administration of their countries, once independence was attained. It is no coincidence that Akora Kwame Nkrumah from Aggrey House emerged as the foremost independence leader of Africa. Indeed, like Africa, Achimota is the physical symbolic mother of Ghana and his siblings of the Black world.
Achimota reigns on her culture, of which academics is very much inclusive. It is the aggregate facets of tradition and extra curricula activities that distinguishes the Achimotan Brand. The games field, comprising the athletic oval, cricket oval, hockey pitch and football fields is a major feature. Other sports facilities are dotted across the oval of Achimota campus.
The swimming pool at the entrance of the main gate, opposite the post office is definitely one of the most exciting school facilities. The boys gym between the Anumle gate and the great music school, the girls gym and volley ball court in front of Clark House and the Basketball court, now moved from across Lugard House to the forecourt of Kingsley House entrenches sports as a core element in the Achimotan fiber.
Of the classical and creative arts, the music and art schools are the major pillars. These are supported by the various clubs, including Reading, Debating, Drama and the ever sweet melodies School Choir. The pioneering cadet square is a delightful location of smartness and discipline display by the school cadet corps on the morning of annual founders day. The edifice of the science lab attest to the importance of science and technology of Achimota training. The diamond Assembly Hall is the venue for entertainment programs, famous among them, Records Night, when girls and boys take to the boggy floor. The Assembly Hall also hosts the annual speech and prize giving day.
The large dinning hall, aside its core function, is a social center. Various announcements take place here. It is the place to size up beautiful and handsome guys, especially the first weeks of school reopening where everyone is fresh from vacation. Punishments are either meted out during dinning or announced after meals. It is the major place for show of leadership by prefects, led by the primus inter pari. He controls proceedings with his notorious bell. The dining hall meals are generally good with the popular Thursday afternoon ‘dotch’, when seniors used to raid juniors during our days.
Achimota is of diverse colors. The school colors are the solid statement of black and white. The various boarding houses come in various colors, mostly displayed at the annual inter houses sports competitions, flagged by athletics. Each house also has its color squared on top of the arched entrance. Yellow Livingstone., Blue Lugard, Red Aggrey, Green Gymafi Brown Cadbury, Violet Guggisberg, Blue Clark, Yellow Kinsgley and Wine Slessor, just to mention some. All the hitherto blue shatters have given way to black shatters, giving the environment its vintage black and white colors. In uniform, the ladies wear green dresses with boys in cream on top of khaki.
Like a son always falls on the mother, Achimota has given Ghana, three major facilities. These are the country’s premiere golf course, Achimota School Police Station and the Achimota hospital, which now serve the public. The school farm which used to feed us and served as practical lessons for agric students in our days, is sadly and traumatically encroached. The total area is now home to a number of suburbans in Accra. Regrettably, this group includes Akoras. It is worthy to mention though, that the general campus is undergoing great infrastructural metamorphosis, perhaps as a prelude to the new era of great promise.
All the above, plus a lot more of the Achimotan ingredients, mills the green ‘Nino’ into a great Akora. The Achimotan Brand, with immense contribution to both Africa and the world are countless to list. As a foremost institution of African independence however, a gist of the Achimotan Brand in political leadership must be registered. Achimota has produced four out of Ghana’s seven presidents. Akoras Kwame Nkrumah, Edward Akuffo-Addo, Jerry Rawlings and Late Professor John Mills. On a light note, President John Mahama’s Akora dream was blacked out at the primary level. President Dauda Jawara and good old Robert Mugabe of Gambia and Zimbabwe respectively are also Achimotan Brands.
Clearly, Achimota is a privileged institution that delivers distinguished brands of men and women of service. In this regard, it is forever a cherished privileged to have once served as Executive Secretary of the Old Achimotan Association, OAA. It was a great opportunity to have served under the OAA Presidency of a distinguished man of many parts, Akora Nene Wing Commander Retired Patrick Nelson Sorgborjor. Akora Lynn Mansary, a beautiful woman in all respects, a mentor of standards and great motherly spirit, was then the Vice President and subsequently the first ever Woman to be President of the OAA. The veteran and veritable Akora Harold Richardson was the Treasurer. Akora Sigismund Dzeble, the first ever and preceding Executive Secretary, a good friend and inspiration of Achimotan values forever rest in perfect peace.
Achimota has delivered and continues to deliver its mission statement. Her son Ghana, is once again at the dawn of a new era. The new day of great promise with anticipated great prosperity, justice and triumph of the African spirit beckons. Achimota delivered the then anticipated political independence. The dawn of the economic phase, the last stage of total freedom is here with us. We will not be disappointed. The ever reliable alchemy of Achimota will prevail in securing absolute freedom for Ghana and Africa.
As Achimota and her son, Ghana, turn ninety-five and sixty-five years respectively to end the outgoing era, perhaps the 91 year group holds great keys for the anticipated new era of great promise. When the books are laid aside and we scatter far and wide, we remember with affection all we gained. How we learned to take our share in the life and labour there, where the men of whom we’re proudest of were trained. Play the game, shout her name. Spread her fame afar. She’s the head of all the host. She is the school of whom we boast. She’s the glory of the coast. Achimota! Nkunim woho mayen! God bless Africa!!
By Yaw Nkunim, Sculptor, Concept Developer, & Pan Africanist