Mfantsipim School

Mfantsipim School

School Crest
Dwen Hwe Kan
Address
P. O. Box 101
Central Region
Cape Coast, Central, Ghana, 101
GhanaGhana
Coordinates 5°07′08″N 1°15′04″W / 5.119°N 1.251°W / 5.119; -1.251Coordinates: 5°07′08″N 1°15′04″W / 5.119°N 1.251°W / 5.119; -1.251
Information
Type Public Secondary/High School
Religious affiliation(s) Christian
Denomination Methodist
Established 3 April 1876
Sister school Wesley Girls High School
School district Cape coast
Headmaster Mr J. K Simpson
Chaplain Rev. George Affum, BEd
Staff 147 teachers
Grades Highest
Gender Boys
Age 14 to 18
Enrollment 2500+
Average class size 50
Language English
Houses 7
School colour(s) Crimson     and Black    
Athletics Best
Nickname Kwa Botwe
Rival St. Augustine's College and Adisadel College. Almost all Ghana's high schools use Mfantsipim as their benchmark.
USNWR ranking 1
National ranking One of the best
Affiliation Methodist Church, Ghana
Alumni Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA)
School Anthem MHB 832 (For All The Saints)
Telephone +233 33 213 4923
+233 33 213 2438
Layout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW1nWSyJe6o

Mfantsipim is a Methodist secondary school in Cape Coast, Ghana. It has origins in the first secondary school to be established in the Gold Coast, (now Ghana), Wesleyan High School, founded on 3 April 1876. The first principal was James Picot, who was 18 years old at the time. The school changed its name to Wesleyan Collegiate School in 1896.

In 1905 a graduate of the school, John Mensah Sarbah, founded a rival school named Mfantsipim; the name derives from "Mfantsefo-apem", literally meaning "thousands of Fantes" but actually meaning "the gathering of hosts of scholars for change" originally by Fantes. In July of the same year the two schools were merged under the control of the Methodist church, keeping the name Mfantsipim.[1] In 1931 the school moved to the present site at Kwabotwe Hill in the northern part of Cape Coast, at the top of Kotokuraba Road.[2]

Academics

Houses

Mfantsipim applies a two fused name scheme for their houses. Houses are named after Headmasters, illustrious alumni or missionaries.

Balmer-Acquaah House

Named after Rev. W. T. Balmer and Rev. G. R. Acquaah. William Turnbull Balmer became headmaster of Mfantsipim when there were only eight dedicated boys, with neither a teacher nor a Headmaster. Gaddiel Robert Acquaah, OBE (a renowned song composer), was an old boy of the school who later joined the teaching staff and contributed immensely to what the school is today. He was the first African Chairman and General Superintendent of the Ghana District of the Methodist Church (1950-54).Balmer-Acquaah houses the headboy and the protocol prefects apart from the house prefects, therefore it is known as "the power house".

Lockhart-Schwietzer

The house was named after Rev R. A. Lockhart and Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Lockhart was the headmaster of the school between 1925 and 1936. He was instrumental in securing the new buildings on Kwabotwe Hills and moved the school to its present location. With both paternal and maternal grandfathers as ministers, Albert Schweitzer followed his calling to be a missionary. He worked in Central Africa as a medical doctor. He helped to save a lot of lives to augment the work and image of the Wesleyan Mission.

Pickard-Parker

The House was named after Rev. L. S. Pickard and Rev. A. W. Parker. Pickard was a book steward of Methodist Book Depot who bequeathed all the income from his residuary estate to Mfantsipim for as long as the school remained under the control of the Methodist Church. He was a frequent preacher and a sports patron of the school. Parker was the Superintendent minister of Cape Coast Circuit in the 1890s. He led the synod in the re-establishment and maintenance of the co-educational schooling system which led to the formation of Mfantsipim and Wesley Girls High School. Parker, in 1888, completed his Fanti translation of the New Testament.

Sarbah-Picot

Named after John Mensah Sarbah and Rev. James Picot. Sarbah was an old boy, a lawyer and political leader. Picot was the first headmaster and a brother to the chairman of the Wesleyan Mission at Cape Coast.

Freeman Aggrey


Bartels-Sneath House

Named after Dr Francis L. Bartels and Rev. Alec A. Sneath. Bartels was the first African layman to be a substantive head of the School. He is remembered for his rapid reforms to lift the image of the school. Sneath was an efficient administrator, which made him serve on two occasions at the headmaster. It is the sixth house to be built in the school. Presently it has a population of about 800–1000students.

Abruquah-Monney House

This is the newest house in Mfantsipim. The building used to be the technical school.It was named after two former Headmasters of the school J. W. Abruquah and O. K. Monney. Abruquah was the headmaster of the school from 1963 to 1970. Monney was first a senior housemaster before becoming headmaster in 1970-76.

Headmasters

Koame Mieza Edjah was appointed headmaster in 2008.[3] He was succeeded by J. K. A. Simpson.[4]

Layout and anthem

Alumni

Alumni of the school include Kofi Annan, Nobel Prize-winner and former Secretary-General of the United Nations; Kofi Abrefa Busia, former prime minister of Ghana; Joseph W. S. de Graft-Johnson, academic, engineer and politician; J. E. Casely Hayford, journalist and politician; Alex Quaison-Sackey, diplomat; Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former president of the Ecowas commission;Tsatsu Tsikata, renowned lawyer, vice-president Amissah Arthur,

Awards

Mfantsipim school is the overall best basketball school in Ghana with four Sprite Ball championships.

References

  1. ↑ Richard Bagudu (2007). Judging Annan. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781425960933, pp. 22–23.
  2. ↑ A. Adu Boahen (1996). Mfantsipim and the Making of Ghana: a centenary history, 1876-1976.
  3. ↑ New headmaster for Mfantsipim School inducted. Ghana News Agency. Archived 9 January 2008.
  4. ↑ Essamuah Colin (14 March 2014). "Time manager is new Mfantsipim headmaster!". Graphic. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mfantsipim Layout and Anthem". www.youtube.com. NKOJOMENSAH. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Mfantsipim 2014 National Science & Maths Quiz". 9 July 2014.
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