I visited Kpasenkpe, the hometown of Hajia Mariama Bawumia, the late mother of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the seat of Prof Nabila, the Paramount Chief of the Wulugu Traditional Area in the North East Region.
I was astounded to see the massive investment in infrastructure development of the Kpasenkpe STEM Senior High School.
I commend highly the Minister of Education, Hon. Yaw Adutwum, for what I learned, was his personal interest in and supervision of the development of that high-class educational facility located in a relatively derived community in the North East Region.
Conversely, could you imagine my surprise at seeing a very deprived Girls’ SHS at South Suntreso in the center of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region?
The PRINCE OF PEACE GIRLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL is a real eye-sore that does not speak well of the reputable credentials of the Minister of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Catholic Church, and the Kumasi general area.
The school was reportedly established in October 1982 by the respected Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, Most Reverend Peter Sarpong. I learnt that the initial aim of the school was to train Catholic Sisters/Nuns. Later, the Bishop reportedly expanded the intake to cover capable girls who passed the Common Entrance Examination but could not gain admission into the few formidable public schools.
Interestingly, I learnt that it was through the kind initiative of the current Munister of Education, Hon Yaw Adutwum, that the Prince of Peace Girlls SHS was taken over by the Ghana Education Service.
I was exasperated to note the nature of the relatively poor infrastructure of the school and the efforts of the school authorities to seek assistance to enable the school to get a facelift.
I learnt that St. Louis SHS, Kumasi, has loaned out one of its teachers to head the Prince of Peace Girls SHS. And there is likely to be an induction service for the new head, one Holy Sister Mary Juliet Antwi Kyeremeh, on 28th September 2024.
I wish to respectfully urge Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum to pay a snapcheck visit to the Prince of Peace Girls SHS and see for himself how the Ghana Education Service, GETFUND and corporate institutions such as GNPC and Ghana Gas could provide much needed financial and material assistance to give the school a proper facelift.
I repeat: Archbishop Akwasi Sarpong’s Prince of Peace Girls SHS in South Suntreso does not speak well of the cultured image of Hon. Adutwum, and the image of the Catholic Church, the Ghana Education Service, and the Kumasi Metropolis.
Hon. Adutwum, your Kpasenkpe STEM SHS is an impressive investment. But your South Suntreso Prince of Peace Girls SHS in the centre of Kumasi is an eyesore to state it mildly.
I shall return.
Owula Mangortey
14095 Eagle Chase Circle
Chantily, VA 20151
9th September 2024