Tema Secondary School, Tema, Ghana

Home

About Us

Campus

Alumni

Feedback

Contact

Useful Links

- - Last Update: January 23, 2004

ADDRESS TO MARK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND THE SPEECH AND PRIZE-GIVING DAY OF TEMA SECONDARY SCHOOL BY

MRS. EUNICE N. QUANSAH - HEADMISTRESS

DELIVERED ON 24TH NOVEMBER, 2001

Mr. Chairman, Honourable Ministers of state, His Excellency The
British High Commissioner, Honourable Guest Speaker, Board Members, Rev.
Ministers, Nii Mei, Naa Mei, Chiefs, Directors of Education, Colleague Heads of
Institutions, Distinguished Guests, Members of Staff, Anchorites, Ladies and
Gentlemen, My dear Students.
It is with great pride and gratitude to God that I stand before you to
deliver this address on the 40th Anniversary Celebration Speech
And Prize-Giving Day of Tema Secondary School. It is on record that on the
occasion of the formal opening of this school in 1962 the then Minister of
Education, expressed the hope that this school would operate to retain the
Goodwill and affection of the public in the Greater Accra Region.
Your massive response to our invitation is indeed a testimony of the continued
Love you have for this school.
I would like once again, on behalf of the Board of the school and on my own
behalf offer all of you a warm and hearty welcome.

THEME
Mr. Chairman, let me begin with a look at the theme for the celebration
'Tema Secondary School, 40 years of Excellence - A Beacon for the Future.'
Tema Secondary School has had a chequered history, having braved many
problems, and challenges created in part by the poor economic situation of the
Country in the last few years. It is also true that other schools may always be in
the lime light, having their successes trumpeted about in the national media.
Nevertheless, our school has, in large measure, stuck to its mission and produced
a great number of qualified persons. Some of such now occupy high echelons of
Government and the private sector. A greater number, though, are found in all
sectors, contributing meaningfully to enhance our national life. It is to this
extent, Mr. Chairman, that we can assert that this school has pursued the virtue
of excellence in the forty years of its existence. It goes without saying that this
theme aptly echoes the Motto of the School - NIL NISI OPTIMA (NOTHING BUT THE BEST).
Similarly, Mr. Chairman, the future of all those who are now
being or will in future be educated here in Tema Secondary School is
quite bright. As you may be aware, Tema Secondary School offers five
main academic programmes in addition to Information Technology.
This, I believe, would adequately cater for the needs of the student in
these early years of the twenty-first (21st) century. Admittedly, problems
would arise as years go by, but for the young one who would want to
pursue his dream; Tema Secondary School is a veritable beacon, lighting
up the way into the future. Indeed, given the location of Tema Secondary
School in an industrial and potentially cosmopolitan setting, students of
this school are likely to obtain benefits, which are not possible for many
students elsewhere in Ghana. For our present crop of students, I would
like to encourage you all to avail yourselves of the opportunities offered
by this school. Let it be proclaimed at the next fortieth anniversary
celebration that you did, in fact, make such good use. By that, Tema
Secondary School will have realized the vision of the theme.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The school was opened on Friday, 22nd September, 1961 with an
initial intake of 52 students and this number increased to 105 by the end
of the month. There were 3 form 1 streams, A, B and C. These continued
to the Sixth Form Level and turned out the first batch of scholars in 1968.
The subjects offered at the 'Advanced Level were: English, Economics,
Geography, History and Logic for the Arts and Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Pure and Applied Mathematics for the Science.

STAFF
The first Headmaster, Dr. F. K. Buah, was aided by a pioneer Teaching
Staff of 6 members made of the following:
1. Mr. A.E.K. Kabu Tei (of blessed memory)
2. Mr. S. A. Asante
3. Mr. N. S. Fiagbedzi
4. Mr. Victor Bampoe
5. Ms. Georgiana E. Shine
6. Mrs. Sophia Anderson
And an ancillary Staff of 5, namely,
1. Mr. L. A. Odonkor - Bursar Grade II
2. Nii K. Allotey - Clerk
3. Mr. J. M. Danso - Clerk
4. Mrs. Maria Karikari - Matron Grade II
5. Mr. Anthony K. Boateng - Messenger
Mr Chairman, it would interest you to know that both Miss (Shine (now Mrs. Mcqure) and Mr. S.A Asante are here with us today, sharing in our joy

During the period under the stewardship of Dr. F. K. Buah, most of the
School's infrastructure was put up. The school was, therefore, set off on a path
that would progressively lead to what we now have - mature academic
Institution.
Mr. K. A. Yirenkyi assumed office in the 1975/76 academic year as the
next head. His tenure saw an increase in student population matched by an
expansion in the size of the infrastructure. The new classroom block, girls
dormitory block and the Home Science block were then erected. Sporting
activities were also tremendously encouraged as the Headmaster himself was a
very keen sportsman.
The late Mr. E.L.A. Lamptey took over in 1982. His was a rather difficult
and traumatic period which saw the mass exodus of teachers and other
professionals to Nigeria as well as the deterioration of the physical structures of
the school.
Other factors such as laxity, indiscipline among students, lack of essential
text books and other educational materials and insufficient funding for schools
added to the situation. This persisted until the Economic Recovery and
Structural Adjustment Programmes came into effect.
In the latter part of 1986, when the school celebrated its Silver Jubilee the
late Mr. E.W. K. Agbelie, who had been Dr. F. K. Buah's assistant from 1966 to
1974 assumed the headship. Mr. Agbelie worked assiduously to complete the
revival of school life, achieving that in the face of meagre financial resources
and persistent pressure for admissions from both official and nonofficial
sources.
Finally, towards the later part of the 1989/90 academic year, he was prevailed
upon to go on retirement due to his failing health.
Soon afterwards, Mr. A. K. Agyepong assumed office. The school
community then saw changes in the staff profile, physical layout and the
rehabilitation of essential buildings. Under him academic performance
improved markedly while the school's name became very popular in the field of
Sports.
His dynamism was also reflected in the increased interest in and focus on
Agriculture. When in 1997 he was transferred to Accra Metropolitan Education
Office, he was succeeded by Mr. E. Owusu-Ansah who focussed on student
discipline, and reorientation of staff attitudes and aspirations. In October, 1999
he retired from the Ghana Education Service and Mrs. Victoria Opoku acted as
head until 1st May, 2001.
History was made on the 1st of May, 2001, when Mrs. Eunice N. Quansah,
the first Best all round Leaver, was appointed the first Anchorite to head her
Alma Matter. With her appointment, the dreams of the first headmaster,
Dr. F. K. Buah, were fulfilled. In his speech on the school's Tenth anniversary,
he had said, and l quote, ?Great will be the joy, when in the not too distant
future, an old pupil will preside over the school as a Headmaster.?
STUDENT ENROLMENT AND STAFF POPULATION
The current student population is 1,557 made up as follows:
723 Boys and 834 Girls
561 Boys are Boarders and 162 are Day Students
519 Girls are Boarders and 315 are Day Students.
Teaching Staff numbers 72 and Non-Teaching staff 59.

PROGRAMMES
Programmes offered in the school include Science, General Arts,
Business, Visual Arts, Home Economics and Information Technology.
For your information, Mr. Chairman, on assuming office, l realised that the
Computer laboratory was not spacious enough to seat a single class at a time. so
with the support and cooperation of the PTA, the school now boast of a
Computer Laboratory capable of accommodating 70students for a lesson. We
shall, presently, inaugurate it.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Mr. Chairman, Academic performance over the past years has been good.
In all, 471 students sat for the 2000 SSSCE and out of this number

107 obtained - 8 passes (i.e. passes in all subjects offered)
112 obtained - 7
69 obtained - 6
49 obtained - 5
52 obtained - 4
32 obtained - 3

The best result was obtained by ROBERT ARMAH ASHITEY, a
Business student obtained 6 grade 'A' AND 2 'B'.
Many more scored grade 'A's and 'B's in various subjects.
Mr. Chairman about 70% of these students have qualified for admission into our
Universities and Polytechnics and other tertiary institutions.
GREENWICH MERIDIAN
It may interest you, Mr. Chairman, to know that the school has
established links with other Schools on the Greenwich Meridian in Great
Britain, and there is already an Exchange Programme between our school and
Woolwich College in Woolwich Borough, Greenwich, U.K. Under this, the team
made up of 8 students and led by Mrs. Mabel Davis visited and participated in
the globalization debate and the signing of the twinning agreement.
Mr. Chairman, you will agree with me that this programme will expose
some of our students to the outside world and other cultures.

DISCIPLINE
Mr. Chairman, without discipline, no institution in the society can make
any meaningful progress. It is for this reason that our school has maintained a
consistent approach to discipline, and measures are always being sought to
improve its level.
Recently, a few of such measures have been introduced. For example,
Visitors' books have been placed at the school gates for monitoring the
movement of our visitors, thus checking the use of our school compound as a
thoroughfare.
A worship service on Wednesday morning has been instituted for the
whole school. It is hoped, by this, our day students will be fully integrated into
the school community. This activity is also meant to provide a suitable forum for
exhorting and edifying students for their character building.
In this regard, we cannot too strongly emphasise the diligence and care shown
by our Housemasters and Mistresses, they have proved themselves immensely
capable of being 'in loco parentis'. Our gratitude also goes to the Board of the
school, who have consistently supported the decisions of our Disciplinary
Committee.

SPORTS AND GAMES
Mr. Chairman, in recognition of the fact that a sharp and sound mind
resides in a physically strong and healthy body, the school encourages
participation in almost all games and sporting activities at the Zonal, Regional
and National levels in the following disciplines: athletics, basketball, hockey,
soccer, table tennis, and volleyball.
The following are the records of the successes chalked by the school in the
Above-mentioned competitions.
ATHLETICS
Out of 38 participating schools in the Greater Accra Region, Temasco
emerged the Zonal Athletics champions in both boys and girls divisions in 1999
and 2001 and hauled home many trophies. Our girls are now the defending
Regional Champions.
The school has produced seasoned athletes not only for the region but also for
the nation. Notable among them are:

1. Monica Twum - an ace sprinter who is currently in the United States
2. Abiba Ibrahim - whose records in 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m races in 1998 are still unbroken.
BASKETBALL
Mr. Chairman, in this field too, Temasco boys are the Zonal champions
in addition, the girls won bronze out of 389 schools, which participated this year.

SOCCER
Mr. Chairman, football has now become the world's number one form of
entertainment and profession. Temasco is also in the limelight in this
discipline. The School won the Zonal Trophy in 1999 and placed third in the
2001 competitions. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to inform you that Temasco is
among the 4 schools selected by GASSA to engage in a round-Robin soccer
competition to be organized by the Greater Accra Region.
What is even very remarkable is the fact that Temasco has produced
several National soccer stars. Notable among them are:
1. Joe Addo of Hearts of Oak and Black Stars fame
2. Joe Famiyeh of ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
3. Sebastian Barnes of Black Starlet fame

HOCKEY
Out of 38 schools, which participated this year in the Greater Accra
Region, Temasco girls placed 4th.

TABLE TENNIS
Temasco is the current Zonal girl's champions and the boys also placed
second this year.

VOLLEYBALL
In this field the boys placed second and girls came third in the Regional
Competition.


NATIONAL INTER-REGIONAL GAMES
Mr. Chairman, at the recent National Second cycle School's sports
Festival held at Takoradi, Temasco contributed as many as eight students to the
Greater Accra Regional squad. They are:
1. Memunatu Issaka - athletics, long jump, high jump and
4 x 100m
2. Felicia Ofosu - athletics, shot putt
3. Mercy Adams - cross country
4. Richard Haus - athletics, long jump, 100m and 200m
5. George Bress - hockey (boys)
6. Felicia Tetteh - hockey (girls)
7. Alvis Ayaba - table tennis (girls)
8. Priscilla Akonnor - soccer (girls)

INTER-SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION
Mr. Chairman, as we are all aware, an institution cannot exist in
isolation. There is the need for constant interaction between her and the
community within which it is located. To this end, Temasco takes part in social
activities such as debates, cultural and choral competitions that are municipality
oriented. I am glad to say that Temasco has chalked great success in these
areas as well.

DEBATE
At a recent debate organized by Readwide under the auspices of the
Education Fair, Trade Fair site, between our school and St. Mary's Secondary
School on the topic ?Prostitution is a social service, it must not be banned, ? our
school stood for the motion and won.
Mr. Chairman, our school, cultural and choral troupe, under the efficient
Leadership of Messrs. Vormawor and Agyepong, is one of the best and has won
many competitions organized in the municipality. For example, out of the 7
schools which took part in the 2001 Inter-schools' Cultural Festival in 5
disciplines, Temasco won 4 and came first. The school also came 2nd at the
District level.

COMMUNITY INTERACTION
Mr. Chairman, gone are the day when the school invited members of the
municipality to participate in activities in her domain. This time, in a bid to
foster community-school relationship, the school recently organised seminars
during which the artisans and other work place groups were educated and
encouraged to extend love to HIV/AIDS patients so as to give them a feeling of
belonging to the society.

PROMOTION AND STAFF PERFORMANCE
Temasco is blessed with a staff of very qualified, efficient and
experienced professional teachers. Their calibre has built confidence in both the
students and parents. Evidence of their up dating themselves in their profession
is brought out by their promotion into higher grades. In 1998, 4 of them were
promoted to the grate of Assistant director, they are:
1. Mr. Paul K. Dzineku
2. Mr. Divine K. Matanawui
3. Mr. D. O. Mintah
4. Miss Georgina Odamtten
Mr. Chairman, to top it all, two teachers from Temasco won the Teacher
Award at the district Level. They are:
1. Mr. Paul K. Dzineku
2. Mr. A. M. Baah
Then, in the year 2000, the school's name hit the headlines of the national
newspapers, when Mr. Acheampong Cudjoe came second at the National level,
and his prize, a brand new Nissan Saloon car. Mr. Cudjoe, Temasco is proud
of you.

NON TEACHING STAFF
The non Teaching Staff have not been idle either. They have been
undertaking courses to update themselves. The following have recently been
promoted on merit
1. Mr. Alex Agyei-Frimpong - Deputy Chief Accountant
2. Miss Florence Hyde - Senior Administrative Officer
3 Mrs. Martha Amarh - Assistant Admin. Officer
4. Mr. Joseph Amartey - Senior Supply Officer
5. Mr. Damboda Frafra - Chief cook

KITCHEN STAFF
More often than not, trouble starts from the Dining Hall, where students
start to complain about their food. We are, however, very lucky that we have a
very efficient Domestic Bursar and her assistants, so our students have no cause
to complain. We commend them for their delicious dishes.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Membership of the School's Board of Governors is made up of very
experienced and illustrious personalities whose affable nature and spirit of
dedication have greatly assisted in the smooth and efficient running of the school.
The Board is chaired by Dr. Eric Kwei; other members are:
1. Mrs. Hannah Amoah - District director of Education
2. Mr. D. A. Nimako
3. Mr. Seth A. Adjetey
4. Mr. Yaw Nyame-Kusi
5. Mr. Joe Tackie
6. Mr. F. W. Tuyee
7. Mr. E. Ayi-Bonte
8. Mr. J. Owusu-Akyaw
9. Mr. T.A.C. Tagoe
0. Mr. A. Agyei-Frimpong
11. Mr. P. K. Dzineku
12. Mr. E. Y. Abankwa
13. Regional Director's Representative
14. Mrs. Eunice N. Quansah - Headmistress
They deserve special thanks, and I would like to urge them not to rest on their
Oars until we attain the enviable height of excellence. I also acknowledge their
special contributions.

PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
Mr. Chairman, as Shakespeare in his play 'Coriolanus' says,
'Ingratitude' is monstrous, and for the multitude to be ungrateful, were to make
a monster of the multitude.' The P.T.A. deserves special gratitude from us. The
P.T.A. has, since my assumption of office, made the following donations and
contributions:
1. Solution to staff accommodation problem by persuading
TDC to allocate more houses to the school;

2. Approval of P.T.A. fees to 10,000 per student
3. Undertaking expansion works on our computer Laboratories;
4. Co-sponsoring this speech and Prize-Giving Day.
What could we have done without them? I will continue to welcome their
suggestions and pieces of advice. More grease to their elbows.
TOSA
Interestingly enough TOSA has been vying with the P. T. A. in their
activities and contributions. Mr. Chairman, among their spectacular and
invaluable contribution and support are:
1. cutting the for the construction of the Library and Language Complex
-Main TOSA
2. The school Clinic - - 1974 year group
3. organizing the Float - -main TOSA
4. The home Coming Summit - Main TOSA
5. The donation of a PC, Scanner and Printer - 1975 year group
6. Co-sponsoring the 40th Anniversary Celebrations
OBITUARY
Mr. Chairman, while we are lauding the achievements of this school,
courtesy demands that we remember the names of some members of staff whose
labours have brought us this far, but who have joined the grand assembly
above. They were:
1. Mr. Kabu Tei
2. Mrs Joana Hackman
3. Mr. E. Lamptey - former headmaster
4. Mr. E. W. K. Agbelie - former headmaster
5. Mr. Abraham Lartey (Tsoolo)
6. Mr. K Owusu-inkoom -Assistant headmaster
May we be up and standing to observe a minute's silence in their memory.
May their souls rest in perfect peace.
REQUESTS
Mr. Chairman, while we are thanking all who have generously donated to
ensure the continued progress and development of Temasco, I am afraid, we
will have to behave like the proverbial Oliver Twist who asked for more. To
this end, we would like to put before you the following for medium and long-
term consideration.
1. Extension to the F.K. Buah Hall;
2. A 70-seater Mini Bus;
3. Extension to the boys and girls Dormitories;
4. Donations of books to boost the stock of our Library;
5. Rehabilitation and lighting up of the street on the compound
6. The establishment and training of a Cadet Corps
7. Rehabilitation and expansion of the Dinning Hall and Kitchen
we count on your usual assistance.
VISION
As I conclude my address, Mr Chairman, I would like to let you in on
my vision.
In my tenure, I do intend to strenghten Community-school
relationship and to improve Staff motivation. In this regard, the following will be
instituted:
(i) a Staff Provident fund, mainly to boost whatever welfare benefits due to the staff;
(ii) Staff Development and Training Programmes to enhance the
productivity and motivation of the staff;
(iii) More programmes to educate the wider community on matters of
Health and Nutrition - all similar to the HIV/AIDS awareness
campaign the school has recently organised.
To achieve all the above, we shall certainly fall on the relevant institutions and
industry and the other sectors for resource persons.
Let me add this, we shall not deviate from our set path of providing
quality education.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Mr. Chairman, in organising the 40th Anniversary Celebration of this
school we have solicit help from many institutions, firms and various other
sources and their response have been very tremendous and heart-warming. We
hereby wish to acknowledgement their support and assistance, not only in cash
but also in kind. Our thanks go to the following:
1. Nii Adjei Kraku II -Tema Mantse and his Traditional Council;
2. Rotary Club of Tema (District 9100)
3. Readwide
4. Valco Fund
5. E.P.P
6. Tema Municipal Assembly
7. Aluworks
8. Cowbell
9. Coca Cola Company
10. Sedco
11. Ghacem
12. TOSA
13. Cocoa Products Ltd.
14. Ghana Sanyo
15. Nestle Ghana Ltd.
16. The Page Hotel
17. Guinness Ghana Ltd.
18. Home Décor
19. Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority
20. Gelloq Ltd (under the management of Mr. Elliot Gordor)
21. Dr. F.K.Buah -our first headmaster
22. Super Paper Products Company
23. A number of Churches in the Municipality

Finally, Mr. Chairman, l wish to extend my gratitude to both the teaching and
Non-teaching staff, who have worked tirelessly day and night to make the 40th,
Anniversary Celebration possible. Their indefatigable spirit will never go
unrewarded.

Mr.Chairman, thank you all for honouring our invitation and may God bless
you

We would like to hear from you.

Send your web site contribution or feedback to the Tosaweb Team

Number of Hits:

Quick Hop

© Tema Secondary School, P. O. Box 300, Tema, Ghana All Rights Reserved