St. Louis Senior High School in Kumasi, Ghana’s Ashanti Regional Capital, has organised an event, first of its kind, dubbed: “Sankofa” in the School‘s auditorium.
Organised by the language department of the School on August 2, 2024, the event showcased the rich Ghanaian culture.
The headmistress, Mrs. Ama Kyerewaa Benefo, in her welcome address, said that “we have all gathered here to celebrate our rich culture as Ghanaians going back to our roots.”
She also spoke about the many achievements the School had chalked in the past years. The school was the best in athletics for the years 2023 and 2024, the best Girls Science school, winners of Onga National Cooking contest, 2024 just to mention a few.
The Head of Department, Mr Richard Obeng Boadi made it clear that the department attended a similar event at KNUST and decided to do a replicate. The young ladies and all present were given the opportunity to reflect on our values and principles and inspire us to uphold our commitment.
There were poetry recitals, proverbs competitions and cultural dances. An insight into the Mission and vision of the founders (Sisters of St Louis) was given by Sr. Michelle Ankrah, SSL.
She mentioned that the sisters cannot be left out if the school has decided to go back to their roots.
She listed Sint Unum, Simplicity, Eternal truth and Childlikeness as few of the values held by the Sisters and which they sort to pass on as they established the School.
The past students also added in their speech as they appealed to staff and students to bring back the St. Louis values that were handed down to them. One of the things they recounted was the study of Christian living taught by the Sisters and how it has helped them for life.
In a talk, by Opayin Kwabena Bosie Amponsa of Opemso Radio in Kumasi spoke about the importance of our mother tongue and stressed that it is what connects us and gives us an identity.
He drew the attention of all present to the International day of Mother tongue instituted by the United Nations and celebrated on February 21.
He highlighted some borrowed words from the English vocabulary that are used or pronounced wrongly as well as some Twi phrases that are used wrongly by the populace.
Mr. Kwadwo Appiah- Kubi, a lecturer in the department of languages and Communication Sciences also passionately urged parents to be proud of their mother tongues and not force children to speak English and despise their mother tongue.
He also encouraged parents to allow their children to study the local languages in school because there was so much they could do with studying their mother tongue.
Mrs. Paulina Akua Asiedua Acheampong a past student and a radio presenter at Oyerepa Fm in Kumasi led an appeal for funds towards the building of a museum in the school.
The Guest Speaker was Dr. Nana Akosua Akyaa III, a Physician Specialist and Queen Mother of Barekuma in the Ashanti Region in her keynote address emphasised the importance Biragro played in our society.
She encouraged the students to take good care of themselves as young women because they were worth so much. She urged them to learn to be humble and to be of service to all the people they encountered in life.
To the parents present she asked that they exercised caution with the kind of names they give to their children because names have effect. The Chief of Nkwantakese, Nana Boakye II in his closing remarks expressed his joy at such an event.
He said “This is a good program and this should not be the only time it is being organised, if it is possible make it a yearly event.”
The management and staff of the school, invited guests, the Sisters of St Louis, past students, parents and students expressed joy in going back to their roots and agreed that this exercise is worth the time and resources.
By Michelle Ankrah, SSL (Sister Communicator)
