Accra Academy at 95: Nana Oye Celebrates Legacy, Backs Major Infrastructure Drive

Accra Academy, one of Ghana’s most storied secondary schools, has officially launched its 95th anniversary celebrations with a renewed call on alumni, corporate bodies and development partners to invest in the institution’s future. The launch ceremony, held at the Ridge Church Hall in Accra on Friday, May 29, also saw the unveiling of a commemorative logo and the announcement of a year-long programme of activities under the theme: “Accra Academy at 95 Years: A Legacy of Pride, Purpose and Achievement.”

Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who served as Special Guest of Honour, delivered a deeply personal reflection on her family’s multi-generational bond with the school. Revealing that four generations of her family had attended Accra Academy, she described herself as “more Bleoo than most people know,” a reference to the school’s iconic nickname. Though an alumna of Wesley Girls’ High School, Nana Oye said the values and traditions of Accra Academy had profoundly shaped her outlook and public service career.

She paid tribute to the school’s four founding visionaries, who in 1931 established Accra Academy with a singular mission: to provide quality education to deserving students regardless of their financial background. That founding principle, she argued, remains as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago. Nana Oye highlighted the school’s contribution to national development, noting its track record of producing leaders across government, the judiciary, diplomacy, science, sport and other fields.

“The values that have sustained Accra Academy for ninety-five years are the same values Ghana needs today,” she said. “The call is not merely to appear successful, but to build with purpose, serve with integrity, and leave a lasting legacy.”

As part of the anniversary programme, Nana Oye endorsed a calendar of events that includes memorial lectures, mentorship programmes, alumni homecoming events, fundraising drives and critical infrastructure projects. She made a particular appeal for support to renovate the Konuah Assembly Hall and the Legacy Staff Quarters, describing both as essential investments in the school’s heritage and its capacity to serve future generations.

The ceremony also featured addresses from the Headmaster, the Board of Governors and the Accra Academy Old Boys Association. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu delivered the keynote address, while former Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho chaired the event. The Italian Ambassador to Ghana recently [announced plans to open a language school in Accra](/italy-to-open-language-school-in-accra-before-years-end-ambassador-announces) before year’s end, reflecting the capital’s growing reputation as a centre of educational investment and international partnership.

The anniversary celebrations come at a time when Ghana’s secondary education sector faces mounting pressure from rising enrolment, infrastructure deficits and the ongoing implementation of the Free Senior High School policy. Institutions like Accra Academy, with their deep alumni networks and established reputations, are increasingly seen as models for how public-private partnerships can help bridge the gap between government ambition and on-the-ground delivery.

As the school begins its journey towards its centenary in 2031, stakeholders say the 95th anniversary offers an important opportunity to reflect on the institution’s achievements while mobilising the resources needed to secure its next chapter.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE