GHANASCO, Tamale , sends out distress CALL To Her SONS AND DAUGHTERS

Ghana Senior High School (a.k.a Ghana College, a.k.a Ghana Secondary School) GHANASCO, Tamale will be sixty (60) years old in January, 2020. This great school has nurtured and churned out thousands of men and women who have served and continue to serve Ghana in particular and humanity at large, in various spheres of life. One can find the products of GHANASCO in professions such as law, medicine, agriculture, banking and finance, accountancy, the military, academia, engineering, politics, sports, business etc.

Owing to lack of space a few names will be mentioned. Notable amongst them are H.E Oga John Dramani Mahama (President of the Republic of Ghana); the First Lady of Ghana, Sompahemaa Oga Nana Akosua Fremaa Amponsah Sika I; His Lordship Oga Justice Bawa Akamba (Supreme Court Judge of Ghana); Oga Dr. E. H. Effah Gyan (Medical Practioner, France); Oga Major Kwame Nsiah rtd; Hon. Oga Alhaji Abukari Sumani (Former M.P Tamale North); Oga Naa Alhassan Andani (Tampion-Lana);

.....Oga Dr. Raphael K. Osei (Medical Practitioner, U. S. A); Oga Dr. J. C. Mills (Medical Practitioner); Hon. Oga Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna (Northern Regional Minister); Hon Oga Prince Imoro Andani (Former Northern Regional Minister); Oga Dr Von Louis Asigri; Oga Daniel Wusah Manga; Oga Attah Nantomah (NORRIP); Oga Naa Saaka Bolina (Former Headmaster Ghanasco and Tamasco); Oga Mahama Ayariga (Youth and Sports Minister and M. P. Bawku Central); Oga Hassan Ayariga (2012 PNC Presidential Candidate); Oga Bernard Dawo Moro (Current National President of OGA); Oga Dr. Abdulai Salifu Asulo (Rector, Tamale Polytechnic and National Vice President of OGA);

....The late Hon Oga Edward Saliah (Former M.P and Minister of State); Oga Alhaji Mahadi Abdulai (Contractor, Accra); Oga Alhaji Mohammed Awal (Former MD, Graphic Corporation); Oga Alhaji Amadu Montia (Formerly of the Bank of Ghana); Oga Imoro Sayibu (C.E.O New Energy and immediate past National President of OGA); Oga Charles Osei (BIBIR, Tamale); Oga Alhassan Andani (MD Stanbic Bank); Hon Oga Dr. Majeed Haroun (CEPA and fomer Deputy Minister of Agric); Oga Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini (Radio Gold and Board Member GCAA); Oga Naa Alhaji Yussif Ibrahim (Kpanvo Duli-Lana and Current Northern Regional President, OGA);

....Hon Oga Moses Asaga (CEO, NPA and Former MP and Minister of State); Oga Abedi Ayew Pele (Former Captain of the Black Stars); Oga Rev. Kwame Ayew (Former member of the Black Stars); Oga Sanatu Nantogmah (immediate past Country Director CCFC); Oga Bawa Fuseini (immediate past General Secretary GAA); the late Hon. Oga Franklin Asumah Ayariga (Former MP and father of Oga Mahama Ayariga and Hassan Ayariga); Oga Rev. Prof. Berinyuu Abraham; Oga Gifty Mahama (Board Chairman NSS);

Hon. Oga John Jinapor (Deputy Minister of Energy); Hon. Oga Mohammed Ibrahim Murtala (Deputy Minister of Trade and MP for Nanton); Hon. Oga Dr. Yakubu Alhassan (MP for Mion and Deputy Minister of Food and Agric); Hon. Oga Najon Bilijo (Minister of Fisheries); Oga Alhaji M. Shaibu Abdulai (a.k.a. 'Raw', Legal Practitioner); Oga Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan ( a.k.a.'Terror', Legal Practitioner and former District Secretary); Oga Alhaji A.H. Friday (immediate past Tamale MCE); Oga Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Gundaadow (current MCE, Tamale);

Oga Kenneth Dabuo (former Regional Director of G. E. S., Upper West and Upper East); Oga Alhassan Imoru (former Northern Regional Manager, GNA); Oga Kojo Kaleem Jahinfo (formerly of the ISD and now a private businessman) and Oga J.K. Kumah (retired headmaster/District Director, GES).

It is a crying shame that in spite of these prominent names to her credit, GHANASCO has been grappling with four (4) major infrastructural challenges, among others, for over four (4) decades now namely:

a. Absence of an Assembly Hall
b. Very poor road network
c. Uncompleted Dining Hall
d. Uncompleted Fence-wall
But for the highly commendable efforts of the P.T.A, GHANASCO would have been worse off than it is today. The School Management, Board and the GES must continue to encourage and support the P.T.A to continue with its laudable projects for the school.

It must also be said however, that through the untiring efforts of H.E. Oga John D. Mahama and the First Lady Sompahemaa, Oga Nana Akosua Fremaa Amponsah Sika I, GHANASCO now has an enviable Ultramodern Girls Dormitory.

The fence-wall project for which H.E. Oga John Mahama laid the foundation blocks in 2010 has stalled since 2012 due to the uncooperative behavior of some residents of Kukuo on the one hand and the contractor on the other. In my view, the input of political and traditional leaders in Tamale is required to get the project completed.

Credit must also be given to Oga Alhassan Andani for funding the School's Library Expansion Project a few years ago and also being the single largest contributor towards the School's 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2010. He has also recently donated sets of Jerseys and some beautiful trophies to the school. This is proud Oga who loves his alma mater. God bless you, Oga Alhassan Andani.

Other Ogas have also contributed their quotas in diverse ways and I truly and sincerely say, 'ni ituma pam!'

As regards the four (4) main infrastructural challenges of the school, I am reliably informed that processes have been initiated to complete the 'new' Dining Hall which was begun over four decades ago. It is expected that the structure would become a 'proper' dining hall by the close of 2016.

The P.T.A has also sought approval from the Director-General (D-G) of the G.E.S to enable it convert and refurbish the old dining hall so it can be used for P.T.A meetings and also as an examination hall. God bless you, GHANASCO P.T.A.

The two remaining urgent needs of the school which are still 'out in the cold' are:

� The deplorable road networks and,
� Absence of a befitting Assembly Hall
My dear Ogas, at home in Ghana and in the Diaspora, what are you doing to ensure that these two important needs of the school are provided? This is the time for you to show your love for your Alma Mater. Stand up and be counted as proud products of GHANASCO.

At this juncture, I crave your indulgence to think aloud for a moment. Come to think of it. Would it not be a most befitting monument if, for example, Hon. Oga Mahama Ayariga and Oga Hassan Ayariga could facilitate the construction of the Assembly Hall which would be named 'Franklin Asumah Ayariga Hall' in loving memory of their late father Oga Franklin Asumah Ayariga or the contruction of the main road from the main entrance to the Head master's house and name it 'Franklin Asumah Ayariga Road' how lovely it would have been!

Mentioning Oga Mahama Ayariga's name reminds me of a pledge the Honourable Oga made a few years ago to build some KVIP toilets for the school. Ghanasco is patiently waiting for this pledge to be redeemed.

Similarly, the First Lady, Sompahemaa Oga Nana Akosua Fremaa Amposah Sika I and her uncle Oga Dr. E.H. Effah Gyan could undertake any of the two projects which on completion could be given a name of their choice. What a legacy it would have been!

Again, is it not possible for Oga Alhassan Andani to persuade Stanbic Bank to take up the construction of any of these projects and name it 'Stanbic Hall' or 'Stanbic Road' which ever the case may be.

Indeed, the Ayew brothers, Oga Abedi Ayew Pele and his brother Oga Rev. Kwame Ayew could, with their international influence can equally take up any of the two projects and name it whatever they want. By the way, Ghanasco will forever be grateful to Oga Rev. Kwame Ayew for donating sporting items to the School during his days as a professional footballer outside Ghana. As for Oga Abedi Pele Ayew l would want to ask if he has forgotten so soon that he was one of the few lucky chaps who benefited immensely from Ghanasco.

For that matter, nothing stops any Oga out there who is ready and willing to take up any of the two remaining projects from doing so. I would particularly want to remind Ogas who are holding influential positions in government that now is the time to stand out and be counted, for posterity will never forgive them for refusing to come to the aid of their alma mater when it mattered most. As the old adage says, 'a word to the wise is enough'.

Long live OGA! Long live GHANASCO (TAMALE).
Oga Seidu Ibrahimah
(1966 Year Group)
Email: seiduib207@yahoo.com