NEW OKUAPEMAN BOARD INAUGURATED (PAGE 22, MAY 18, 2010)

A THIRTEEN-member board of governors for the Okuapemman Senior High School (SHS) at Akropong-Akuapem has been inaugurated.
The board, which has not yet elected its chairman, would be in office for the next three years.
In an address, a member of the board, Mr Yaw Yirenkyi-Atuah, said since their inauguration had come at a difficult period when more classrooms and dormitories had to be provided to take care of additional students due to the extension of the SHS duration from three to four years, the board would work around the clock for the provision of such facilities.
According to him, that would make it possible for the school to cater for all students.
Mr Yirenkyi-Atuah, who is a businessman from the Akuapem area and an old student of the school, therefore, called for support from the old and continuing students, staff and the parent-teacher association.
In her inaugural address, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng, spelt out the functions of the board, which among others, were to solicit support for the school and maintain discipline.
She advised members to always avert any “collision” with the school administration whiles doing their work.
Mrs Boakye also enjoined the students to be disciplined and make judicious use of their time to study and come out with flying colours at the WASSCE to enable them to climb the academic ladder.
The acting chairman of the old board, Odeshie Yaw Yirenkyi, expressed gratitude to all those who supported his term, especially the old students association, to ensure the school’s academic achievement over the years thereby making it one of the best in the country.
The Akuapem North District Director of Education, Mr Ben B. Cronze, who chaired the function, said his outfit would come out with a package for the best student in the school who would also be among the best in the country at the 2011 WASSCE.
Earlier, the Headmaster, Mr Felix Essah-Hienno, said the school, which was founded 53 years ago by a barrister, Mr Kwaku Opoku Acheampong, would be instituting founders’ day lectures in February next year in honour of Mr Acheampong.
He praised members of the old board for their sacrifices that had continued to improve the school’s academic record and discipline.
Gifts were later presented to members of the old board and Mrs Rene Boakye Boateng.