Ghana National College: First school
built by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah with his
position as the General Secretary for the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)
was able to organize some funds to establish the Ghana National College.
Dr. Nkrumah, who defied all odds to
become the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, set up his first
secondary school at Cape Coast without holding any public office.
The Ghana National College was
founded by Dr. Nkrumah on Friday, 16th July, 1948 for students and
teachers at St. Augustine's College and Mfantsipim who were sacked for their
involvement in the self-government now campaign propounded by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
As a result of their racial
discrimination and increase in unemployment rate in the country, on 28th February,
1948, Gold Coast was rocked by riots following the killing of three ex-services
men and other economic related factors.
The riot hit the principal streets of
Accra and other cities such as Cape Coast and Sekondi Takoradi.
Some students and teachers who
actively engaged in the peaceful demonstration demanded for the betterment of
the colony.
As a result of their involvement,
they were dismissed from their various school, thus, St. Augustine, and
Mfantsipim School.
The teachers who were sacked were
Kwesi Playe, M. J.J. Mensah and Mr. H.P. Nelson.
Basically, the Ghana National College
was set up for the eight students who were dismissed by the British colonial
government.
Nkrumah then invited the expelled teachers
to his office at Salt Pond and elaborated his plans to start a school to
accommodate the students and the staff sidelined by the school authorities.
Nkrumah started the Ghana National
College school projects by donating ten pounds to lay foundation to the
building of the college.
Sixteen boys and one girl enrolled as
the first batch of students of the college.
The Mission of the school is to
utilize effectively the available human and material resources to create a
conducive atmosphere for teaching, learning and character training for the
realization of the vision of the school.
While the Vision is to create a
center of total quality education, which would help individuals develop an
enduring culture worthy of the African tradition, to contribute meaningfully to
National Development.
For many decades now, Ghana National
College has educated numerous individuals in the country that have contributed
massively to the development of the country.
Some notable alumni of the school are;
Nana Aba Anamoah; Media
Personality
Abeiku Aggrey Santana; Media
Personality
Diana Hamilton; Ghanaian
musician
Anthony Annan; Former Black Stars
player
Charlotte Osei, Formerl Electoral
Commission Chairperson
Francis Debrah ; Politician
Credit: Governor