About - Apam Senior High history

Apam Senior High School popularly known as "GREAT APASS" was founded by the Late Rev. J. W. De-Graft Johnson on the morning of 20th February 1953. The school started from very humble beginning in a cocoa shed at "Apaa Paado" (Apam plains) near the "Baka" (i.e close to the lagoon in Apam) with a student population of twenty and a staff of two as a Day Secondary School. The vision of the school is to produce hardworking individuals who are of service to mankind. In terms of mission, Apam Senior High School exists to provide a conducive atmosphere for character training, excellence in academics and sports all in a bid to produce knowledgeable, useful and all round citizens imbued with good character and skills that will epitomize the school's motto: "Obra Pa Gya Owura Kwan" (Character and Efficiency). The men and woman who have steered the affairs of the school since its inception to date are the following: 1953 to 1958 Rev. J. W. De-Graft Johnson 1959 to 1979 Dr. P.A. Owiredu 1980 to 1988 Mr. Sam Parry 1988 to 2004 Mrs. Esther Hamilton 2004 to 2016 Mr. Archibold Kobina Fuah 2016 to 2019 Nana E.C. Acquah 2019 to 2022 Jemima E. Arthur-Morrison (Mrs.) 2022 to date Comfort Essah-Amoaful (Mrs.) Having laid the firm foundation of the school by Rev. Johnson, classes were conducted in a tottering cocoa shed at Apaa Paado. On the 16th of April, 1960, a new site, known as Mmofra Mfa Adwen , was commissioned by Lord Listowel, the last Governor General of Ghana. This is where the school is presently located. In the very beginning, the outward attractions of the school were all lacking. Classes were conducted in a tottering cocoa shed at Paado. At the new site there was no sea water to use so water was brought by tankers from Winneba and rationed. Even though the school had moved into new premises, the student still had their meals and slept at Paado ostensibly because of lack of facilities. This also meant that students had to walk for about two miles to attend classes which were conducted at Mmofra Mfa Adwen. The boarding system was nothing to write home about. The first dinning hall tables were rough boards which were hurriedly put together by one Supi Kojo Mbrah, then a first class craftsman. Food was prepared from Mrs Ruth Botsio (the wife of Mr. Kojo Botsio) family's house with the family's cooking utensils because the school never had any utensils of her own. When food was cooked, it was carried to the Old site. The dinning hall itself was too small that students who were in the hostel had to eat in two batches: a situation which disturbed school programmes. Nevertheless the founders of the school and the students saw far above the then set-backs as temporary impediments since, to them, education was more important than any physical discomforts and limitations. The school went through a period of great exertion and out of those struggles, emerged to a powerful and proud school that even to this day knows how to struggle to work and serve mother Ghana, a school welded together by bonds of past tribulations. In September, 1961, the school was officially recognised not only as a Boarding School but also a Sixth Form School after inspection. Again, the school moved from Arts and Science to include other programmes and from One Stream to a Four Stream School. ACHIEVEMENTS The school which started with only twenty students and two staff in 1953 can now boast of over two thousand students and eighty tutors. Apam Senior High School has made remarkable achievements and contributions to Ghana in every facet of her development. In the field of academia, mention is made of Professor Kobina Yankson, the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor John Blay, a former Dean of students, University of Cape Coast, Professor Kodwo Ewusi, Vice Chancellor, Westend University College, Professor Peter Ohene Kyei, Rector, Pentecost University College and Mr. Charles Aheto Tsegah, Deputy Director General, Ghana Education Service. In politics, names of Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, former minister and Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya Constituency and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Hon. I.K Adjei Mensah, also a former minister for Works and Housing under erstwhile President Rawlings's regime readily come to mind. In the judiciary and legal profession, Justice Anin Yeboah, a Supreme Court judge, Justice Gyaesaayor, an Appeal Court judge, Miss Charlotte Obeng and Mr. Ebo Selby who are both lawyers of high repute, and immediate past and current presidents of the Old Student Association respectively, are all proud sons and daughter of the school. In sports, apart from being the zonal and regional champions on several occasions, the school has produced great sportsmen and women for the country. For instance Samuel Inkoom of Black Stars fame and Abeiku Quansah , former national under seventeen and under twenty player. In the film, music and entertainment industries, Mr. David Dontoh of Agro fame, Asaase Aban, Guru and Rev. Josh Laryea can be mentioned. In the industrial field, Mr. Ishmael Yamson, former chairman of Unilever and former Board chairman of the University of Ghana, Dr. Victor K. Osei, Director of Cocoa Clinic, Ghana Cocoboard, Mr. Kusi Yeboah, Managing Director, Unique Insurance Company Limited and Dr. Aristotle A. Kotey, Managing Director, Precious Mineral Marketing Company Limited are indeed, proud sons of the school. In the media, Miss Mary Ann Acolatse and Irene Manieson are products of this school. Nana Obokomatta, Chief of Gomoa Dasum and Dr. Mandoh Botchwey, Medical Director, Klimovic Memorial Hospital ,Winneba are but few of the prominent sons and daughters GRREAT APASS has produced. Time, space and memory may not permit us to mention all. But the school continues to produce knowledgeable, useful and all round citizens of good reputation poised for the development of Ghana. OBRAPA! GYA OWURA KWAN!