This photo depicts the meeting at Sofoline that started it all.
The Asantehene took him to a closed military hospital and suggested
that the wards might be converted into dormitories and classrooms
and the store rooms could be converted into rooms for the staff. The
site of the actual hospital - modern day Sofoline - was very limited
so the King gifted the surrounding land to the school to enable it to have
reasonable grounds for expansion. The only problem with that was that this
additional land was all bush and would have to be cleared before it could be
used by the school. In this photo, the Reverend was overwhelmed by the size of
the vegetations he had to clear.
Rev. Sidney Nesbitt Pearson (Prempeh's First Headmaster, 1949-53) passed away on January 24th at age 87.
He'd had a number of strokes and a heart attack since the previous summer. Though he suffered another
heart attach in December 2002 and had been very frail, he celebrated his 87th birthday a few days before his death.
He died at the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Scotland. He was survived by his son Keith (who was the first white baby born in Ashanti in 1944)
and daughter Wendy, and their children.
The legendary founding Headmaster was born in the ancient cathedral city of Durham in the northeast of England and studied English at the
University of Durham. Because of his "keen interest in Africa," in September 1938 he sailed for the Gold Coast whereupon he became a member of staff
at Wesley College, Kumasi. He met his wife Irene "Awuraa" Dixon, an English missionary who was teaching at Mmofrato Training College, in Ghana. After obtaining a theology degree
at the University of Cambridge, he returned to the Gold Coast only to be told that he was to be the Headmaster of a new school in Ashanti. Rev. Pearson established Prempeh and
served as its Headmaster for three years until his heart collapsed on December 24, 1952 and he
received a bleak prognosis. He left for England expecting not to live very long. However, he surprised everyone with his
doughty spirit, living into the 21st century and seeing Prempeh College turn
fifty. Even when he was frail, he gave an interview with the College's
website and bequeathed some rare photos from his archives for the website
a few days before his death. He derived great joy from following the achievements
of the Old Boys through this website.
Not only did he outlive his friend the King, he outlived his successor to the throne - King Opoku Ware II (reigned 1970-1999). When Rev. Pearson first
went up that uncertain hill with King Prempeh II, it was the then heir-apparent Opoku Ware II (the then land surveyor Mathew Opoku), who levelled that
shrubbery on the nerve-racking site of the future school.
Pearson House and the annual Pearson-Osae Appreciation Lecture perpetuates his name.
Headmaster Asamoah Owusu-Achiaw attended the funeral of Rev. Pearson.
Since he was given very short notice, he travelled to Scotland without actually finding the time to give his travel plans to the Pearson family. But there were problems: the provider of the ticket booked his flight for Glasgow, instead of Dundee (east of Scotland), where the event was taking place. So when he arrived on the day of the funeral, from the far away Glasgow (west coast of Scotland and Glasgow airport is about 100 miles from Dundee), he informed the Pearson family of his arrival and requested to be picked up.
Moreover, that Thursday (January 30) was the worst day of the winter in the UK and the snow in London was so bad that flights were cancelled or delayed. For these reasons, the family could not pick him up since whoever went to get him would have missed the funeral. When it was agreed that he would take a taxi to Edinburgh, no taxi would take him because of the snow. So he had to catch the train. Sadly the train got into Dundee just after the funeral at the Crematorium had finished. But quite luckily, a number of people had come back to the Pearson residence afterwards so once he was picked up from the train station, he read the message of greetings and condolence to the people who were at the house.
Keith, Wendy and the Headmaster of Prempeh College.
Headmaster went to Scotland with the goal of presenting the Suban ne Nimdee cloth
for the founding Headmaster's casket to be wrapped in. However since he arrived after the funeral,
this scene was reproduced for him to pay his final respects to the already-cremated Rev. Pearson.
The cloth was wrapped around a furniture for this mock scene.
Keith was born in the Kumasi Hospital in June 1944. Though it was normal in those days for Europeans to return home to have their children, the Pearsons opted to remain and have their children in Kumasi so Keith was the first white baby to be born in Ashanti. When Prempeh College was opened he was befriended by the pioneer students. He had a small-size Prempeh College blazer so he regards himself as an honorary Amanfoo. When we asked him about his green Prempeh blazer, however, he replied, "I'm afraid the blazer has disappeared into the mists of time!"
Wendy was supposed to have been born in Kumasi in March 1953 but owing to the father's poor health, they had to leave Ghana on the Christmas eve of 1952. She regrets not having been born in Ghana.
Interestingly, they both followed their father's footsteps: they pursued careers in Education; Keith is now a Head of the Social Sciences Department in Dundee College, one of the biggest Further Education colleges in Scotland. Wendy is Head of Religious Education in a secondary school in Kirriemuir in Scotland.
The Headmaster was with the family till the Saturday; he visited Rev. Pearson's house, the church in Arbroath and the Crematorium in Dundee where the services were held. He flew down to London on the Saturday and then home to Ghana on the Monday. Actually his original ticket given to him was for him to fly back on 10th February but since he was desperate to return to Prempeh College, the family kindly made the necessary arrangements for him to get new tickets so he could fly home earlier. The Pearsons graciously presented the Headmaster with Rev. Pearson's preaching gown and hood, possibly ones he wore when at Prempeh, to be a gift to Prempeh College for the school to keep as a memento of the first Headmaster.
In February, Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, the first non-European to be installed as General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) - the umbrella body which
unites over 77 million Presbyterians, Reformed, Congregational and Waldensian churches all over the world - led a team to Baghdad to affirm the solidarity of
the worldwide Reformed family with the people of Iraq. "Our purpose is to affirm our fellowship with our Iraqi Christian brothers and sisters - and their Muslim neighbours," says Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi.
Dr. Nyomi found that for Iraqis the threat of war had further reduced their quality of life - already under severe pressure as the result of years of punitive sanctions.
The Gulf war and the earlier war with Iran continue to have a destructive impact. The children suffering from leukaemia that the delegation visited were just one sign of how
devastating war has already been for the people of Iraq.
After the visit, Rev. Nyomi issued a strong statement to the White House opposing the proposed war on Iraq.
He wrote, inter alia, "We speak today out of deep sadness and regret: regret that the force of international public opinion did not, in the end, dissuade the United States administration and its few remaining allies from embarking on a war that will bring suffering, misery and death to many thousands in Iraq and, perhaps, elsewhere.
We reiterate our view, stated on February 21 and shared by countless Reformed and other churches throughout the world, that this war, undertaken without even the cover of UN authorization, is immoral and illegal. To use a traditional term, it is sin.
We remind President George W Bush and his administration that the gospel choice is to be for or against Christ."
He heads that august body in Switzerland.
Also in February, President John Agyekum Kufuor was elected the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 26th Heads of State summit held in Dakar, Senegal.
President Kufuor succeeded President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal.
In April, the Amanadehyee Congress was successfully held at the University of Cape Coast.
In April (in particular) and throughout the rest of the year, Kumawuhene, Prempeh's own Barimah Asumadu Sakyi II and his people were in a protracted land dispute with the people of Kwamang.
Barima Abayie Ntori Nimpa II, Kwamanghene, urged his people "to exercise maximum restraint in the face of the extreme provocations by the Kumawuhene." He stated that Kwamang was not a landless state and the people would use all legitimate and peaceful means to guard and protect their lands from external encroachers. There has been a longstanding dispute between the two antique Asante states over a stretch of land that exists between them. Were it not for timely intervention by security agents, the situation would have been riotous by now.
The legendary music master who served Prempeh for decades, Mr. Crosby "Osukuunii" Boamah died in 2003.
He was one of the most revered teachers of his time. In the 1960s and 70s, his strong fervor for teaching
and playing the school piano made even a former US Ambassador - the famous child Hollywood superstar
Senior Kwabena Asare (the former Edmund Tensu, 1967
SP), first student organist of the school, now residing in
North Carolina, USA, was trained by the great Osukuunii.
Shirley Temple Black - come to the school to present musical instruments to the College. He founded in the
1970s the Prempeh College Orchestra and recruited people from the Barracks to help Prempeh students master
these arts and thereby succeeded in passing their Royal School of Music Exams. Prempeh therefore became a pioneer in the field of music teaching.
Many great Prempeh pianists such as the Ansah-Asare brothers, were schooled under him.
Here is one senior's tribute to him.
Mr. Boamah was also a scholar of the Twi language who taught students pure and advanced Twi. He emphasized the study of Twi and Music
in the curriculum.
Then there was the shocking death of 33 year old legendary Ashanti Regional athlete and Ghana Olympian, Henry Hagan. Ghana's Olympian Henry Hagan
(Pearson Class of '88), died today May 1, 2003 at age 33.
He was a Research Specialist at Emory Medical School's Department of Biochemistry. He was also completing his course work for a Master of Public Health degree at the prestigious Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.
Hagan went to Ghana in April 2003, where he hoped to show his wife, Cynthia Arnold, Pearson House. He
was to give us his athletics photo collection along with new photos of his first ever visit to Sofoline upon his return.
But Henry died upon stepping out of the plane at his arrival at Atlanta's International Airport on May 1st, 2003,
of pulmonary embolism due to deep venous thrombosis (a clot developed in his leg and migrated to block his lungs).
When the thrombosis is caught before it migrates, it can be treated and complications prevented with anticoagulant
drugs like heparin. But once it migrates to block the lungs, its almost always fatal. Immobilization is a major
predisposing factor. The muscles of the legs act as pumps to maintain venous return from the lower extremities and
since Henry had been sitting in the plane for about 9 hours, inactivity of his muscles led to venous stasis, which led
to the subsequent development of the thrombophlebitis. The very moment he started walking out of the plane, the thrombus started
migrating upward from his leg, and by the time he stepped out of the plane, it had reached his lungs. This lead to his immediate demise.
Which is why an airline traveller (especially on trans-continental flights) must rise up and walk periodically to reduce the risk of
developing this serious complication of immobility.
One of Ghana's greatest athletes of all time
and a record holder, he gave an interviewed at this site just days before his death.
He held in 1990 the Ashanti Inercollegiate and the Ghana Inter-Regional 400 meter record. He set the Ghana 4 x 400 relay record with Hesse, Boateng and Solomon Amegatcher - a record that still stands - and went on to compete in the Barcelona '92 Olympics.
The athlete who was 6 foot 5 inches tall, used to run the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 1 X 400 meter
and the 4 X 400 meter relays and the long jump all in one day and won them all!!! He could receive a baton at a distance of 60 meters behind the leading runner and stretch his long legs at an incredible rate to run past the finishing line in sweeping triumph!
"There was one occasion in Kumasi when Ghana hosted the African zone 3 junior competition. During the last race which was the 4 by 4 relays, the Nigerians took the lead about 20 meters but I remember when I took the button for the final lap of the race, I then ran pass this guy and we won. This was the first time Ghana beat Nigeria in the mile relay."
After dominating the Ashanti and Regional athletics for his Sixth Form years, he earned a scholarship to study at the University of Alabama, where he would team up with Ghana's Solomon Amegatcher again and set the school's 4 x 400 meter relay indoor record with a time of 3:08.03 in 1993 in Indianapolis.
This record set by Hagan, Alohan, Simmons and Amegatcher stands as number 1 on the school's all-time list. As
far as outdoor records go, Hagan, Alohan, Simmons and Amegatcher is 3rd on the all-time list with a time
of 3:03.45 (set in 1993, Houston). That same year, he recorded a 47.98 in Gainsville, Florida, which is 10th
on the all-time list. In the 4 x 100 m relay, his times of 39.67 in 1992 (with Allen, Lee and Simmons) and
39.78 in 1993 (with Allen, Ghana's Amegatcher, and Ghana's Boateng), remain 9th and 10th on the all-time
list for outdoors, respectively. An NCAA All-American, the 47.98 is not his best time; it is his 46.35 (set in Auburn)
which stands at 10th on the Ghana all-time best. However, it is the adversity that stimulated him to greatness
that remains a classic epic in the annals
of Ghana sports.
He was burried in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (his wife's homeland) on May 19, 2003.
Senior Boateng, K.A., CPA, was in August appointed the Chief Operating Officer of the
Africa-America Institute.
As C.O.O. he "is responsible for managerial oversight of AAI’s operations, and further development of the financial infrastructure that enables AAI to expand programs while maintaining rigorous fiscal accountability."
Previously, Senior Boateng was Executive Director of the National Puerto Rican Forum, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides employment and training services to Latinos and other minorities. From 1985 to 1994, he was Founder and President of Rising Sun Financial Services, a firm that sold small businesses and provided CPA services. From 1979 to 1985 held several executive posts at the Prudential Insurance Company. As Treasurer of Prudential’s Eastern Home Office he was responsible for $1.5 billion a year in premium collections and short-term investments. From 1976 to 1979 he was a Staff Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick.
In July, Senior Asamoa-Baah, A., became the
World Health Organization's Assistant Director-General in charge of Communicable Diseases. Dr. Asamoah-Baah was formerly
Senior Policy Advisor to the Director-General. He began his new duties on July 21, 2003.
Formerly Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Ghana, Dr. Asamoa-Baah has been working with the W.H.O since 1998.
He has been very instrumental in reforms in the health sector, in the civil service and in budget and financial systems in the winder public service in Ghana. He has served on a number of intersectoral committees and taught part-time at the Ghana Medical School and the School of Public Health.
In the middle of the year, the biography of the President of Ghana, Mr. J.A Kufuor became available and was an instant success.
Senior Kufuor, who won the presidential elections in Dec. 2000 and was sworn in as president on January 9 2001,
owns the richest political and public-service credentials and experiences in Ghana's history:
his work in government spans a period of over thirty years. He started as the Chief Legal
Officer and Town Clerk (City Manager) of Kumasi, in 1967. He was a key member of the committee
that drafted the 1969 and 1979 Constitutions. He was also a Founding Member of the Progress Party (PP) in 1969, the Popular Front Party (PFP) in
1979 and is a Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Besides having been elected twice
as a Member of Parliament, he has also been in political detention on two occasions as a result of military coups that
overthrew the Second and Third Republics. Here is a review of his biography:
"This book is democratising access to the interesting insights that explain the combination of vision and determination, as well as the self-confidence and self-sacrifice, that make up the psycho-matrix values, heritage and name of Agyekum Kufuor."
—Atukwei Okai,
Secretary-General, Pan African Writers Association
Senior Kwabena Sintim-Misa is a member of Saks Fifth Ave million dollar book club,
which means that he generates over a million dollars in sales yearly for this
prestigious specialty store. He is actually the only associate in the Ralph Lauren
department who has achieved that milestone in the company's history. He has
clients worldwide, including world leaders and very high profile dignitaries
who consult him fashionwise on what outfits are appropriate.
While Senior Kwabena was achieveing greatness in New York/New Jersey, his brother Kwaku Sintim-Misa,
famously known as KSM, was having an outstanding year in Ghana in the domain of drama. Senior KSM is
Ghana's greatest living stage dramatist.
His mastery of this art has over the years earned him the title
"the Undisputed Master of Satire and King of Comedy."
During the year he took on a feminine role in his play "Afia Siriboe," which was sold out at the National Theatre.
"Being the only person who is able to fill every available space at the National Theatre with his performances (Daily Graphic)," KSM began
in the new year with his series of Afia Siriboe one-man comedy during which he thrilled the audience. He then agonized over the state of the nation
with his Uncensored Thoughts (ASEMBEBE). A sample of his powerful words follows:
"By the way, I am not talking about that conventional State of The Nation address
where Presidents get to address Parliament. That one is nothing but a platform for
the self-indulgence of the ruling party. An occasion for them to pat themselves on
their backs, distort facts and claim easy victories to chants of “Yeah yeah.” They
always end up assuring the nation that except for a few minor hitches and setbacks
caused by external factors or the previous administration the government is on course!"
He enjoyed a most successful year.
Our legendary Mathematics master, who has trained generations of Ghanaian doctors, engineers and teachers in Mathematics at both the O-Levels and A-Levels, Opanyin Kwadwo Kyere is doing well as a marriage counselor. His audio tapes are very pouplar among married couples in Ghana and he has his own radio broadcast. He is heard as far back as Sunyani, on Space 87.7 FM. He still looks very young and healthy. He is doing well.
In September, the Serwah Housemaster, Mr Jack Kennedy Brobbey, popularly known as Nigga Foe, won Ashanti's "Best teacher" award again. This is the 4th consecutive time he has been selected as Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to the GREAT teacher for making Prempeh number 1 again. He is considered the greatest master of teaching in the Ashanti Region.
One person who had an unpleasant year was the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II. In September, a number of chiefs from the Asante-Mampong Traditional Council sent a petition to the President of the National House of Chiefs urging him to demote Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II from the District's Judicial Council because of his previous conviction of contempt. Because he had been held in contempt by a magistrate, the Mampong chiefs petitioned that "such behavior demonstrates the total lack of respect that Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II has for the Courts, the very institution he is supposed to support, safeguard and defend by virtue of his membership of the Judicial Council."
Furthermore, the Standing Committee/Kingmakers of the Gyaase Council of Mampong Traditional Council accused the Mamponghene of autocratic rule in October. The accusation was contained in a petition to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, by six of the eight Kingmakers dated August 18, 2003. The petition states, “We members of the Standing Committee/Kingmakers of Mampong Gyaase Council of Mampong Traditional Council, humbly petition your majesty the Otumfuo for your sympathetic consideration and necessary remedial action on the following: that Nana Mamponghene has been operating stool lands accounts without the involvement of the Mampong Traditional Council; accounts in respect of moneys and revenues collected on plot allocation, sand and stone quarries, land royalties and leases are hidden from the Gyaase Council and accounts have not been rendered to the Gyaase Council on the last two annual fund raising rallies held in the name of the Gyaase Council.”
Then the Daily Dispatch Newspaper carried a story to the effect that, Nana Osei Bonsu allegedly received 30,000 dollars from one Mrs. Rosina Mensah, in order to enstool her as MampongHemaa. This story was later found to be untrue. When he sued the paper in court, they didn't show up to defend themselves.
Also, a Tema businessman filed a writ against Mamponghene and six others over the release of land at Bosomkyekye for two different people for the cultivation of teak trees. The businessman - ironically the Omanhene's namesake - Mr. Osei Bonsu had his agreement revoked by the Mamponghene on the basis of the businessman's misrepresentation of facts that had come to Daasebre’s knowledge after execution of the first lease.
Such frivolous lawsuits preoccupied him for most of the year.
In October, our Assistant Headmaster, Mr. Stephen Anokye was appointed
Headmaster of Opoku Ware Secondary School, which is his alma mater.
However the OWASS oldboys "strongly objected to his appointment by the Ghana Education" because
"he lacked the requisite experience and capability to effectively head a first class and renowned school like Opoku Ware Secondary School."
Their press release stressed, "the decision to appoint an assistant headmaster (Domestic) of another school to head an institution as great as OWASS without any proven experience does not augur well and portrays OWASS as though it was a training ground for headmasters." "The association will cut all links with the school should the GES go ahead to make Mr Anokye, headmaster of OWASS", the release stated.
Mr. Anokye, however told this website that "they thought I was going to implement the policy of "suban ne nimdee" but I want them to know that I am my own man. Anyway, if the policies and philosophies (refering to Suban ne Nimdee) are right, I will surely use them."
Dr. C. H. Ayisi, Assistant Headmaster of Prempeh College from 1963 to 1964 passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2003, in New Jersey.
Dr. Ayisi taught English Language and English Literature. Prior to his promotion to the assistant headmaster's position he was Serwah Housemaster. The world may know him as Dr. Ayisi. But to Amanfoo the man who constantly wore a broad and infectious smile was Kwaagyamma. Dr. Ayisi left Prempeh in 1964 to pursue further studies in the UK where he obtained his Ph. D. He returned to Ghana and lectured at the University of Cape Coast.
Also in November, the 6th Pearson-Osae Appreciation Lecture was held in Danyame, Kumasi. The theme was "Bridging the gap between rural and urban education. The keynote speaker was the Head of Sociology at The University of Cape Coast, Prof. Kofi Agyemang. On that occasion, Prempeh College's longest-serving security officer ("Amoeba Nash") was given a special award in appreciation of his many years of outstanding services to The Kings College.
The Adansihene, Nana Ofori Agyemang II, introduced his own scholarship fund in November aimed at providing bursaries to students who couldn't afford school fees. He spent 90 million cedis on 120 students from the district enrolled in secondary and tertiary schools. He said it is the determination of the Adansi Traditional Council to support and promote higher learning in the Adansi state. He also appealed to the government to increase royalties from gold mining from the current 9% to 30%.
President Kufuor was hailed around the world for
"his immense contribution towards securing peace in the West Africa sub-region."
The Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group of the UK awarded him a police
cap for his peacemaking efforts.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) also conferred upon him
an honorary doctorate degree in law at a special congregation
held at the UCC, Cape Coast in November. He therefore becomes
the first sitting President in the country, to be given such an
award by the University, which has conferred similar honours on
24 eminent personalities, including non-Ghanaians of varying backgrounds.
Another distinguished Amanfoo who was honored by that same University was the former don of the University,
Reverend Professor Samuel Kwasi Adjepong. The Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. S.K. Adjepong
was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa). "As a result of your exemplary leadership, the university has forged partnership with a number of local and international institutions and agencies, which had brought academic programmes and physical projects to UCC", the citation said.
Our great humanist, Dr. Manny Tuffuor, was in the news again in November, for the outstanding services he continually provides to humanity.
The President & C.E.O. of GhanaCare/HealthAfrica Inc., & Founder/Chair of The Board of Governors of the famous Animwah Medical Center, Kumasi, whose pioneering work in the Health management
sector has won steadily increasing acclaim as "one of the greatest contributions of the
advancement of health in the developing word (World Bank/IMF)." Not only has his projects
been endorsed by the World Bank & IMF, it has also been featured in the New York Times previously. His work seems to be getting more attention. He has launched a new project: the publication of a new free monthly health-care magazine aimed at educating the black community about health issues. The magazine initially will be distributed in East Cleveland, Warrensville Heights and parts of Cleveland in places including senior centers, grocery and convenience stores, and beauty parlors and barber shops, Tuffuor said. According to the newspaper (Cleveland Plain Dealer), "it will cost the doctor about $1,500 a month to publish the magazine, tentatively titled The Foundation Health News. The publication will be produced with help from volunteers at the Glenville Health Foundation, a nonprofit group Tuffuor founded two years ago to educate African-Americans on health care.
With assistance from volunteers, including a handful of doctors who have agreed to periodically write articles, Tuffuor's latest project is not expected to cut too deeply into the time he spends with his family."
He said in the news article that "I feel there is a need to give back, not only to the communities I serve here, but also in the country where I came from. To share with others is an innate sort of thing I was raised with."
Prempeh College, which is always the first to invent anything in Ghana, developed an idea in December which is expected to be
replicated all over the nation. At least Opoku Ware School will emulate and implement it next year. Prempeh held a graduation ceremony for the June 2003 graduating class as part of the December Speech &
Prizegiving Day. The 54th Speech & Prizegiving and Graduation Ceremony was held on December 6; 700 students graduated. This was the first
such graduation ceremony at the secondary school level in Ghana. Special graduation gowns were worn by the graduates on that day.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of the Interior, was the Guest Speaker while Otumfuo was the Guest of Honour. However, the King could
not make it to the event and nana Akyempemhene deputized for him.
The Senior Prefect of the day, Gyabaah Victor, addressed the graduates as follows: "Young graduates, respectable batch of 2003, I deem it more
than just an honour to call you Amanfoo and the first to be graduated. You are
now making a step into another stage of life. This is where you need to understand that life is how you make it and not where you are coming
from. It is full of choices and what you choose at this stage can affect your future status. You have received your results, whether good or
bad, do not get discouraged. Stay focused for that serves as the womb to
accomplishment. You are pregnant with a vision and be determined so that you can deliver prosperity. Be good ambassadors of the Kings College
and I know and believe that God will crown all your efforts with success."
The East gate at the Serwah entrance was commisioned on that day. A new Recreational Hall was also commisioned on campus.
In February, Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, the first non-European to be installed as General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) - the umbrella body which
unites over 77 million Presbyterians, Reformed, Congregational and Waldensian churches all over the world - led a team to Baghdad to affirm the solidarity of
the worldwide Reformed family with the people of Iraq. "Our purpose is to affirm our fellowship with our Iraqi Christian brothers and sisters - and their Muslim neighbours," says Rev. Dr Setri Nyomi.
Dr. Nyomi found that for Iraqis the threat of war had further reduced their quality of life - already under severe pressure as the result of years of punitive sanctions.
The Gulf war and the earlier war with Iran continue to have a destructive impact. The children suffering from leukaemia that the delegation visited were just one sign of how
devastating war has already been for the people of Iraq.
After the visit, Rev. Nyomi issued a strong statement to the White House opposing the proposed war on Iraq.
He wrote, inter alia, "We speak today out of deep sadness and regret: regret that the force of international public opinion did not, in the end, dissuade the United States administration and its few remaining allies from embarking on a war that will bring suffering, misery and death to many thousands in Iraq and, perhaps, elsewhere.
We reiterate our view, stated on February 21 and shared by countless Reformed and other churches throughout the world, that this war, undertaken without even the cover of UN authorization, is immoral and illegal. To use a traditional term, it is sin.
We remind President George W Bush and his administration that the gospel choice is to be for or against Christ."
In April, the Amanadehyee Congress was 
Senior Boateng, K.A., CPA, was 
In July, Senior Asamoa-Baah, A., became the
World Health Organization's 
While Senior Kwabena was achieveing greatness in New York/New Jersey, his brother Kwaku Sintim-Misa,
famously known as KSM, was having an outstanding year in Ghana in the domain of drama. Senior KSM is
Ghana's greatest living stage dramatist.
His mastery of this art has over the years earned him the title
"the Undisputed Master of Satire and King of Comedy."
During the year he took on a feminine role in his play "Afia 
Our legendary Mathematics master, who has trained generations of Ghanaian doctors, engineers and teachers in Mathematics at both the O-Levels and A-Levels, Opanyin Kwadwo Kyere is doing well as a marriage counselor. His audio tapes are very pouplar among married couples in Ghana and he has his own radio broadcast. He is heard as far back as Sunyani, on Space 87.7 FM. He still looks very young and healthy. He is doing well.
One person who had an unpleasant year was the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II. In September, a number of chiefs from the Asante-Mampong Traditional Council sent a petition to the President of the National House of Chiefs urging him to demote Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II from the District's Judicial Council because of his previous conviction of contempt. Because he had been held in contempt by a magistrate, the Mampong chiefs petitioned that "such behavior demonstrates the total lack of respect that Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II has for the Courts, the very institution he is supposed to support, safeguard and defend by virtue of his membership of the Judicial Council."
President Kufuor was hailed around the world for
"his immense contribution towards securing peace in the West Africa sub-region."
The Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group of the UK awarded him a police
cap for his peacemaking efforts.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC) also conferred upon him
an honorary doctorate degree in law at a special congregation
held at the UCC, Cape Coast in November. He therefore becomes
the first sitting President in the country, to be given such an
award by the University, which has conferred similar honours on
24 eminent personalities, including non-Ghanaians of varying backgrounds.
Our great humanist, Dr. Manny 
Prempeh College, which is always the first to invent anything in Ghana, developed an idea in December which is expected to be
replicated all over the nation. At least Opoku Ware School will emulate and implement it next year. Prempeh held a graduation ceremony for the June 2003 graduating class as part of the December Speech &