A VISIT TO SOFOLINE: ONE AMANFOO'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL

Friday, August 5, 2005

Waking up one morning in Takoradi, one Amanfoo decided to visit his alma mater in the far away Kumasi and show off the school to his Odadee (PRESEC Old boy) friend.

He filled his car with enough petrol and asked his friend to come along on a visit to the Kings College of Ghana. Excited about seeing the famous Prempeh College, the former PRESEC Dining Hall Prefect joined his friend on a trip to where Kings have trod.

Upon arrival at Prempeh, the Amanfoo drove all around the campus, going from house to house showing the various houses to the friend. Around the Serwah-G'berg road, he overheard one Prempeh boy tell his friends, "Na okurasenii ben na ode kaa aba ha yi? Aden na otwi kaa saa, aden w'agyimi anaa? (What kind of bush person has brought this car to our campus today? Why, hasn't he driven a car before? Why is he driving like an idiot?)"

Senior Kojo Ntow (left), seen here at the 2004 Royal Congress enjoying a drink. His senior brother is Kofi Ntow, the 1985 Assistant Senior Prefect.

Senior Kojo Ntow, the visitor, was so shocked by those comments that he reached out to the guy and asked him to approach him so they could have a gentlemen's discussion. But the Prempeh boy said, "Oh firi ho ko (get away from here), you foolish boy. Kwasea (you idiot), I don't have any time for you."

Thus the Prempeh student refused to reason with him.

At this time the PRESEC product was shocked by this incident and wondered whether this was the same much-vaunted Prempeh College -- a school historically known for its discipline. He wondered why Prempeh boys insult strangers who approach their campus. Is this normal here, he asked.

Kojo decided to appease his friend by going towards the administration and finding one of the masters to report the seeming lack of discipline because a strong action by a Prempeh teacher will go a long way in showing the Presecan that what transpired moments earlier was an aberration.

At the Administration he found Mr. Ofosuhene, the Assistant Sports master. Appallingly, however, Mr. Ofosuhene did not see anything wrong with the student's behaviour. In the presence of the PRESEC old boy, Mr. Ofosuhene said, "barimah (gentleman), you know this is part of school life. Wokoraa wowoha woyee bi (Even you, when you were here, you used to do the same). Saa na nkwadaa tee (Thats how kids are). Just accept it as part of school life."

Aghast, Senior Ntow left the campus and went to stand at the School gate as he watched several Prempeh boys going back and forth, most dressed shabbily. He then ordered the passers-by to tack in their shirts, some of which were even unbuttoned. Ei, Prempeh paa ni (is this really Prempeh?), he queried. Each student passing by the school gate was lectured on the art of proper dressing.

Afterwards, the disconcerted Kojo drove back to Takoradi with his Presec friend, who teased him that he (Kojo) was not respected at his own alma mater.

Though this happened about three weeks ago, Kojo still feels very angry and disenchanted. That is why Kojo, who is one of this website's biggest fans, urged us to report this ordeal, to remind the administration about the need for discipline at Prempeh College.

The problem may be attributed in part to the nugatory regime of the notorious Kwadwo Konadu. Because the students never respected the Prefects this year, they behaved any how.

We feel that Prempeh boys are not to insult strangers they do not know. What if the visitors were philanthropists who were on a mission to deliver tons of gold to the school? What would happen to the treasure?

Instead of insulting visitors, we should actually assist them with directions and questions. Isn't that what Suban is all about?