Prempeh College once again set the pace for others to follow in the year 1998 when
the first Pearson-Osae Appreciation lecture was held. The Appreciation was the
first of its kind as Ghanaians have the habit of celebrating their heroes only when
they are dead and gone. In the words of Prof K.A.B Akosa, "In Ghana, the only
lectures we have are memorial lectures."
Dr. Osei Kuffour, Amanfoo National President.
The introduction of this Appreciation lecture in honour of our first headmaster, the
Late Rev. Sidney Pearson and our first Ghanaian headmaster, Mr T.A. Osae started the year before Prempeh turned 50.
On the 23rd November, the 9th edition of the Appreciation Lecture was held at the
Ghana National Association of Tecahers Hall (GNAT) in Accra. Since the Appreciation
lecture has been rotating between Accra and Kumasi, this year was the turn of Accra
and come next year, it will be held in Kumasi.
The theme for the occasion was, "this earth our only heritage" and the chairman of
the occasion was Togbui Afedzi who is the CEO of Strategic Initiatives and
co-founder of Databank Ltd.
Senior Moses Tetteh, Greater Accra Regional President, was the MC of the day .
The Guest speaker for the occasion was the Okyehene, Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin who
has a knack for matters relating to the environment and was also made the Guest
speaker in honour of his elder brother, the late Okyehene Osagyeguo Kuntunkununku II who was an Amanfoo.
The programme started with a procession by the college choir who arrived in time for
the occasion despite the college bus giving them some few problems enroute to Accra.
The opening prayer was said by the Greater Accra Old boys President who also acted
as the Master of Ceremony, Senior Moses Tetteh.
There was an introduction of the chairman of the occasion by the MC and later the
chairman took the podium to address the Amanfoo and Amanfowaa who had gathered at
the GNAT hall in hounour of the two distinguished personalities of the college.
The
chairman, Togbui Afedzi started his speech by saying that he wanted to read his A
level at Prempeh College but could not make it which had everyone in the room
yelling, "oh oh sorry." The Togbui was very glad to be honoured to be the chairman
and spoke of national integration and the need for Ghanaians to eschew tribalism and
ethnocentrism. He then advised Ghanaians to cater of the environment as that is our
only heritage.
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin (right) was the Guest Speaker. The invitation was a tribute to the late Okyenhene Kuntunkununku II, Pearson House Class of '62, who died in 1999.
The Guest speaker also took the podium and made mention of the fact that, his
brother was an Amanfoo so he is an Associate Amanfoo and has taken the title
"Senior." This called for a lot of laughter in the house. Speaking on the theme, the
Okyehene said our environment or the earth is suffering as thousands of hectares of
land are destroyed each day. He also stated that, the current load-shedding in Ghana
is as a result of the way we treat our environment. The bush burning and
deforestation has culminated in the inability of the clouds to give out rain hence
the reduction in the water level at Akosombo.
The whole place was gay as he mentioned that over-population is even a cause of
worry to the earth. "This is the first time in the history of Akyem that a chief has
two children," he said referring to himself. He said producing too many children is
even "environmentally unfriendly."
The Okyehene also advised Ghanaians to be neat at all times and not at periods when
everyone is watching. He is surprised that cleanliness has now become an event in
Ghana saying it is only when visitors are coming into the country that we clean the
streets and organise massive clean up exercises.
He ended by saying that, as he is now a "Senior", he would like to be invited to
Prempeh meetings which made the whole place went agog.
