Speech Delivered by Senior Prefect Ainoo at the 2007 Handover ceremony

Mr. Chairman, Headmaster and his able assistants, College Chaplain, Members of Staff, College Prefects, Distinguished Students, All protocol observed, a moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out of the old to the new, when an age dies and a new one begins.

The torch of leadership lit by the ever-excelling Prempeh College family some 58 years ago has been handed over every year from our predecessors to Sunday, 9th April, 2006, when the mantle was handed over to us. Can anything good come from Nazareth? Nathaniel asked (John 1:46). This was the question that bothered the minds of a lot of students and some teachers alike when the 2006/7 Prefects and SRC Executives were ushered into office.

Outgoing Senior Prefect Ainoo and one of the new Prempeh teachers after the handover ceremony

With the words of MHB 578, "A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky, to the serve the present age and a slogan for the Board, "In Unity we stand. In God we trust" in mind, we worked hard to achieve a set target and also to erase the erroneous perception held about our year group.

Now on this day, the 20th May 2007, we can boldly say in no vain glory that we have run the race, fought the fight, and what is left for us to do is to receive our crown of glory.

We had series of meetings and prayer sessions which made us tactful and up to the task, making it evident that we deserve the indelible marks that we have made in academics, sports and discipline.

In academics, the debating team made the College proud by winning the Ashanti Regional Debate Competition. The same team got to the inter-zonal stage of the National Debate Competition but were unfortunately knocked out. The National Science and Maths Quiz team also made the College proud by winning the Regional Science Competition organized by the Regional Science Club. In General Arts, our quiz team also managed to snatch the trophy of CHASS Ashanti Regional Arts Quiz. In Visual Arts, one of our own won the Unilever Arts Competition and had the opportunity of travelling abroad as part of his prize. I would want to state that we will win the National Science and Maths Quiz this year. I have the biggest trust and belief in the team.

In the area of sports, the College successfully defended the Ashanti Regional Milo Soccer Trophy but narrowly lot the national one. Our athletics team put up a marvellous performance during the inter schools sporting activities. The sports team proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the Owareans and our efforts were rewarded with the first position in the Inter-Colleges and second position in the Super Zonals. Like hungry wolves, our mouths were widely open to swallow the overall trophy this year. In hockey, we placed second to KNUST SSS in the Regional Methodist Week Competition. To help unravel the sports talents in students, the prefects in conjunction with prempeh.org organized an inter house football competition. The SRC also organized an inter house basketball competition. The first three houses were Aggrey, Butler, and Guggisberg.

During our tenure of office, various renovations and changes took place. Various projects were also embarked on. Mention could be made of the changing of the dining hall gate. This has caused a great reduction in what we call 'capturing'. We were also instrumental in the purchasing of steel plates to replace the old plastic ones that we were using. Discipline in the dining hall has been superb and to the gallant Dining Hall Prefects, I say Bravo! They really made sure there was discipline and that students ate with the right cutlery sets.

The SRC provided wall clocks for all the classrooms in the school and now has plans in the pipeline to establish a students' welfare committee called 'nipa hia mmoa kuo' to help students who find themselves in serious financial situations. The committee will also make donations to teachers who get married or lose any of their relatives.

The prefects and SRC also came together and erected a neon sign worth ¢18m at the main gate. Though we sought help from old boys far and near, we could not get the help. During our tenure of office, the entire student body made a donation worth ¢5m to the Kumasi Children's Home. We believe that not only is the College training us to be academicians, but also to develop a charitable character and give to the needy. Always learn to do all the good you can by all the means you can, in the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.

The college also had the best of entertainment as was seen during the prempeh.org fun fair. All these go to make us the best leaders and students in Ghana. It was really a nice time and we thank the organisers, prempeh.org.

From presidential castles to Kings' palaces, the college has produced nothing but the finest leaders of tomorrow. The College for our academic year, produced the Vice President and Public Relations Officer of the Editorial Board of the Ashanti Regional SRC. These are in the persons of Rockson Akwasi Agyemang and Livingston Koduah respectively.

We managed to get some prominent old students for a programme dubbed 'Meet the Stars'. They spoke on the topic, 'The expected behaviour of the Prempeh College student'. Yaa Asantewaa Girls' and Asanteman Secondary Schools were invited. One downside was that most Form threes were not around to listen. We had it in mind to help renovate the urinal at the new Science Block for use by visitors but time and financial constraints did not permit us. Our successors, we charge you to embark on that project.

When we recall all these events, enviable as they are, we cannot proceed without thanking our indefatigable headmaster, Mr. Owusu Achiaw for the help and co-operation he gave us. His door was always opened for fruitful discussions on issues without any dictatorship. I remember very well that one day, we sat with him from 8pm to 11:15pm discussing an issue on mid-term holidays. Sir, if for nothing at all, we thank you for adding the last two lines of the Stanza 4 of MHB 578 for us on the day of our induction ceremony and that is, "Assured, if my trust betray, I shall forever die". That really kept us on our toes.

The College Chaplain and all other members of staff have also been very helpful to us through the persistent checks and pieces of advice they gave us. The SRC's heartiest appreciation goes to our patron, Mr. Daniel Appiah for his immense support. He really proved beyond all reasonable doubt that he is a father to us. We can't express in words how you have helped us. Just as a great religious leader once said, "the magnitude of gratitude of an attitude has no altitude". We thank all old boys abroad who strengthened us with some advice.

We therefore humbly suggest to our able tutors not to stop giving this support to our successors. Again, you all know that the discipline level in the College is dwindling and blame shouldn't be put on anyone. A boat doesn't go forward if everyone is rowing in a different direction. Alone, we can do so much; together we can do so much more. We should all settle our differences and resolve to instil discipline in the College otherwise, I fear to say that proper discipline will not exist in the college, and that is the truth. There should not be any DIFFERENCES!

Incoming prefects and SRC executives, just bear in mind to continue what your predecessors have so far done. With God, all things are possible. For you, I don't have "A charge to keep I have" but what I have for you is "Fight the good fight with all thy might, fight with thy strength because Christ is thy right". To the other students, respect the masters and prefects and make their work easy. Do side with what Donald E. Wisdom said, "our job you see is to be good caretakers over the little we have". It doesn't really matter, in this life how much we have but it matters a lot how we manage the little we do have. Take the three year opportunity you have serious for opportunity it is said come but once. Leave a good name in the College so that you can attain a greater height. Thank you.

FRANCIS AINOO

SENIOR PREFECT

Return to Prefectorial Proceedings