MANNING THE MATTERS

By Eben Wireko

The bell was tolled as I stood silently in the utter darkness in front of the Katanga Block .I saw people in their impeccable and neatly pressed white shirts heading towards the Main Classroom Block. I never anticipated what was happening for a moment until I heard the voice of a man. He wore an angry face and snarled at me. His firm voice shook all the systems in my body to the extent that I never got the opportunity to think straight. He asked me to get to my classroom. He had a big cane in his hand that could qualify for a position for the 39 strokes that pierced the skin of Jesus before His death. I went straight to my classroom.

It was later that I was made to know that it was the man who was to be my Senior Housemaster before I leave the school. He was dark-coloured, short and had a broad face that made him look like someone who was ready for war. This man was later introduced by Saddam as the "Squadron leader with the Field Marshal Belt" in terms of disciplining and putting the matters and affairs of students to order.

Mr. Albert Obeng Odoom was the man with numerous nicknames such as "OWUO, UNCLE, DADDY, O-SQUARE, DEATH." Needless to say, the man preferred the O-square more than any of the names. I was then a Form One student and that was my second day on campus. Before my arrival, I had heard a lot about this man but had never seen his image. He was branded as an "enemy" by the current students and a "mentor" by the old boys. What a man!

This man made my days at Prempeh both a hell and a safe haven. Hell in the sense that, he over-reacted to certain minor things and gave stringent punishments for that. Safe haven in the sense that, he shew a higher degree of diligence, discipline and commitment that smoked out all the bad nuts among us. Indeed. he was an ardent observer of his principles and statutes.Prempeh stood and still stands tall in terms of discipline and some credit goes to this man for that. No wonder, Prempeh is always adjudged the most disciplined school when we go for Inter-co and Super-zo at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. As nature has it a tree dies before it germinates, this man is out of the college now and there must be somebody to take his place. So many names have come out and masters are doing their possible best to locate their names in the good books of "to whom it may concern". With the inception of an Acting Senior Housemaster, discipline has been on its highest pedestal but with some "buts."

Many people cherish the exuberance and tact with which Mr. Atiemo (popularly known as Bra Atia), the acting Senior Housemaster has kept this notable office. The question is "should Atia be handed over the post?" A section of the students say, Atia is too lenient and soft for the job while others say "new King, new laws "I must say that the position as a man of matters needs a strict person who commands respect in this age of evil. The exit of Owuo has seen a fall in the adherence of roll calls and I would like all the masters to rally behind the man behind the driving wheel.

Compliments to all the students and masters for keeping the spirit of Amanfoo perfervid.