May 23, 2004: The Historical Slaughter House.

The Slaughter House (The Prempeh College Examination Center)

All are architects of Fate Working in these walls of Time.

H.W. Longfellow The Builders

The Great Decider of Amanfoo's fortunes?

A boy's performance inside the Slaughter House, usually over a period of one month, is very pivotal to his future success. The direction that his future may take often hinges on the decisions he makes during the final national exams he takes in this historically anxiety-provoking facility. Whether he gains admission to the university or he becomes dejected on the breadline depends on his performance in this building. The importance of in-class accomplishments during a boy's whole training at Prempeh pales in comparison to the vitality of attaining success in the cherished but feared Slaughter House, because inrrespective of one's strong accomplishments in the classroom, any fiasco at the Slaughter House may spell doom for the student so far as University admissions are concerned. And in a country where thousands are competing for such few spaces in higher education, success in the Slaughter House is more critical than what one accomplished since Form 1. Therefore, the most outstanding achievement any Prempeh boy can attain is success in the Slaughter House for that has a far-reaching influence on his outlook.

Similarly, a Headmaster is not a good Headmaster (by Prempeh's high standards) until his students achieve greatness in this historical building. On the other hand, Headmasters can write excellent vitas if they excel or outrival others in this domain of "Slaughter House achievements." Check the records of past Speech Day addresses to see Headmasters braggings about their successes in this historical facility, and contrast that with their downcast faces during Speech Days when they have failed to impress in the Slaughter House. This is why Atiemo, whose record was lamentable, proscribed any idea of a Speech Day during his tenure as Headmaster. It wasn't until the arrival of his successor, R.T. Sackey, that the tradition of annual Speech Days were reinstituted.

T.A. Osae is considered a legendary personage in the annals of Ghanaian secondary education because of his truly sterling achievements in Prempeh's Slaughter House. For more than a decade, he recorded the nation's best in all exams.

Senior Oppong Oduro Kofi - National Best Student (SSSCE) for the year 2000 who received a Presidential award (presented by President Kufuor) on Independence Day, March 6, 2001. With him are the then Headmaster, Mr. E.A. Sekyere and Asst. Headmaster Mr. Stephen Anokye. Some of the Prempeh boys accompanied him to Accra for the award. He's currently enrolled at KNUST Medical School where he is their best student.

In 1973, for instance, The University of Sofoline set an all-time record in the G.C.E. "O" Level exams. Of the 100 students presented only a few did NOT obtain distinction. Consider the 1967 June A-Levels: All 25 candidates presented for the A-Levels in Science qualified for admission to the University of Ghana. All the 100% candidates recieved 2 or more passes which qualified them for the University entry. 10 obtained 4 principal passes, 10 three passes and 5 two passes. There were in all 10 distinctions in a total of 10 distinctions in both Science and Arts.

Reuben Tetteh Sackey also became renowned for achieving success in the Slaughter House. Though he may fail to top the nation annually in the cumulative percentile of passes obtained at the GCE, one thing was always guaranteed: that the nation's best overall student will come from Prempeh. Headmaster Sekyere also gained acclamation for producing the nation's best students who went to win the Presidential award at the National Independence Day ceremonies.

The Slaughter House has transformed itself into a Damoclean sword, swift in pointing the College and its headmaster to the precariousness of their positions.

However, the Slaughter is no longer an anxiety-provoking landmark on campus; it is a "mining center," where students go to burn the midnight oil.

We went to the Slaughter House the evening the boys returned from midterm holidays and there they were, occupying positions where great men have strode, and studying as if there was no tomorrow. Their goal: to bring Prempeh back to preeminence by succeeding at the Slaughter House. These boys are carrying the alma mater's name on their shoulder. If they succeed, the College's name goes along with it.

Given our so-called 15th position, the exigencies of the times requires that our boys study really hard. But they should not be forced to bear this weight. They must realize that into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary.

For these boys - and like all Prempeh folks that have passed through these walls - studies serve not only for reputation, but also for delight.

We love to learn. The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books!! Reading is our destiny. It is the only way to success in the Slaughter House.