In February and March 1998, there was a two-month long exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institute
at the National Musuem of African History in
Washington, D.C. which heralded the astute diplomatic skill and great
leadership potential of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I. For nearly a
century - 1888 to 1970 - Agyeman Prempeh I and his nephew Sir
Osei Agyeman II ruled Asante, an overreaching and economically
savvy empire which at its apex covered an area of 150,000 sq miles,
one-and-a-half times bigger than modern Ghana.
In March 1998, The Smithsonian presented a play in Washington, D.C. Upon His Back He Carries Them, which was
commissioned by The Discovery Theater with a grant from The Educational Outreach Fund of The Smithsonian, to "enlighten, inform, and
inspire" audiences about the life of King Prempeh I.
"This goes to show that besides being the premier post-primary institution north of Accra, the name
Prempeh exudes reverence and invokes strength and power" (Mr. Yaw Owusu, in his Views from outside Sofoline.
Golden Jubilee Launching, May 30, 1998
On May 30, 1998, Amanfoo from all over the country met at Sofoline to officially launch The 1999 Goldem Jubilee. The theme was "HELP REBUILD PREMPEH."
Among the Distinguished Guests are Nana Osei-Bonsu II, Mamponghene,
who deputised for the Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II
and cut the sod for the ¢1 billion dormitory project, together with the Governor of Bank of
Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffour; Bariama Asumadu Sakyi, Kumawuhene; Oheneba Adusei
Poku, Akyempeimhene of Kumasi; Nana Ofori Agyemang, Adansihene, Professor Akosa of The University of Ghana Medical School, and Fritz Baffour,
all old students of Prempeh.
Asantehene Representative, Mamponghene Nana Osei-Bonsu II, planted a tree to mark the occasion.
Also, Nana Osei-Bonsu II, Mamponghene; Barima Asumadu Sakyi, Kumawuhene; Oheneba
Adusei Poku, Akyempeimhene of Kumasi; Nana Ofori Agyemang, Adansihene, and Dr.
Kwabena Dufuor, all old students of Prempeh, jointly donated ¢8 million.
Also, the Sierra Leonean Pierre Lisk of the Prempeh College A-Level Class of '92 ran in the World Championship of Athletics, after performing formidably in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Mr. Fritz Baffour, Producer/Director/Presenter of "Sincerely Yours", a TV magazine program, has had his show rated best.
And during the The Second National Tourism Awards Nite held at the Accra International Conference Centre,
Mr. Fritz Baffour of "Yours Sicnerely" fame also won Tourism Marketing Campaign of the Year award.
His Majesty Osagyefo Kuntunkununku II, Paramount Chief of the Okyeman Traditional area was crowned President of the National
House of Chiefs.
And for the first time in Ghana's history, two Presidential Candidadtes sharing one alma mater ran in the same Presidential Elections. John A. Kufuor of the Prempeh College Class of 1958
face John Koduah of the Prempeh College Class of '62.
Kuffuor won the NPP Presidential Primaries as Koduah placed 4th.
John Koduah
Affectionately known as "Lawyer Koduah," he still remains the NPP
acting Ashanti Regional chairman. John came into the Presidential race with a bible quotation in hand; "when the wicked is
in authority the people mourn, but when the righteous take over the people rejoice."
John Kufuor will be the Flagbearer of the NPP Party in AD 2000 Presidential Elections.
A Prempeh College grad
by the name of Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah was appointed as a Senior
Policy Advisor to the Director-General of WHO based in Geneva.
This is a very signifiant appointment, making him one of the
top officers at the UN.
Dr. Asamoa-Baah now has global responsibilities in the health delivery
system throughout the world.
Former Headmaster, Mr. T.A Osae appeared on National Televison Breakfast show, where he presented "The History of Prempeh College". Prempeh was the first school to recieve such an honour.
Kofi Bonner at the Press Conference just before his appointment on October 23rd, 1998.
Kofi Bonner addresses the audience after he accepted the job offer from Browns' Owner Al Lerner.
Kofi Bonner of the Prempeh Silver Jubilee Class ('74) was appointed Vice
President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Cleveland Browns
Football Franchise on October 23, 1998, with responsibility for all business affairs of the
team, including overseeing completion of the new Cleveland Stadium.
Mr. Bonner brings to the task a strong economic development background from his years in
a series of key government positions in the San Francisco Bay area.
A Prempeh College Documentary will be aired on National TV by GTV during the course of 1999. Again, Prempeh College is the first to receive such an honour!
The Nation stood still on November 25, 1998 as Amanfoo introduced the 1st Annual Pearson-Osae Appreciation Lectures. It made the front page of The Graphic for two consecutive days.
Mr. Clifford Mpare
Clifford Mpare, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Sloan Financial Group and the Chief Investment Officer of
New Africa Advisers, Inc., appeared on CNBC-TV's Power Lunch and talked about investment in Africa. He was also quoted in Fortune Magazine and Business Week.
"Investing In Africa"
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor
On December 22, The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, was nominated by a majority of the Ghanaian population (both home and abroad) as the Man of the Year 1998.
The reasons given by most readers of The Independent who endorsed the Governor of the Bank of Ghana were
varied but the theme which kept running through almost all the responses was that, he
has been able to stabilise the cedi, reduce inflation from alarming proportions and mopped
excess liquidity in the economy. He has been able to transfer all Government accounts from the commercial banks to the Central Bank
for effective monitoring and control.
In July 1997, Dr. Duffuor was appointed Governor and Chairman of the Bank of Ghana. His
appointment saw the pursuit of tight monetary and fiscal policies which have led to slow growth
in Reserve money and Broad money, a fall in the inflation rate, strengthening of the Cedi
coupled with the stability of the exchange rate as well as a significant improvement in
Government’s fiscal position.
His mission to help Government regulate the economy began in 1995 as Deputy Governor of
Bank of Ghana. In that position, he initiated the introduction of the two-way quotation system
(offer/Bid Rates)in the forex transactions in the Central Bank and thereby removed the subsidy
to users of foreign exchange.
He also restructured the Central Government Account(Consolidated Fund) and arranged a
$60 million Syndicated facility with Societe-General Bank for the Ghana Government. This
period also saw his appointment as Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the
Financial and Structural Adjustment Programm of the IMF/Government of Ghana.
Nananom
Our year ended with Barimah Asumadu Sakyi, Kumawuhene celebrating his
Silver Jubilee on the 28th of December 1998, six days after Dr. Duffuor was voted Man of the Year.
Mr. Clifford Mpare
Dr. Kwabena Duffuor