Achimota Primary ’97 alumni give back with nostalgic walk and legacy visit

For many members of the Achimota Primary School (APS) 1997 year group, especially those who began their journey from the boarding house in Class 1, APS was more than just a school; it was home.

Within its wooden dormitories, age-old classrooms, and expansive compound, they were nurtured, shaped, and formed. As more pupils joined over the years, the bonds of friendship and shared experience only deepened.

On Saturday, May 10, the APS ’97 year group returned to their alma mater for a nostalgic walk through the school, not just to relive fond memories, but also to give back. The visit was a moment of reconnection, reflection, and recommitment.

The group arrived with donations including ten dustbins, four handwashing stations, and boxes of detergent, all aimed at improving the school’s water and sanitation needs. Their gesture, though modest, would contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for current pupils.

The visit concluded with a joyful kenkey party filled with childhood songs, laughter, and recollections of dormitory life. One of the most touching moments of the day was a surprise Visit to Mr. Ahmed, a long-serving teacher at APS since 1990.

His heartfelt interaction with the group, along with his reflections on the school’s current challenges and suggestions for future legacy projects, left a lasting impression on all present.

During the presentation of items, the Senior Housemistress and Housemaster received the donations on behalf of the school. In her address, the Housemistress expressed profound gratitude to the APS ’97 group and assured that the items would be put to good use.

Amidst the celebration, however, the alumni could not ignore the school’s pressing needs.

Years ago, a Daily Graphic report highlighted the deteriorating state of Achimota Basic School. Many of the classroom structures, built as far back as 1959, still stand today in a dilapidated condition. Classrooms lack windows, broken desks hinder learning, and the once-green compound is now bare, contributing to erosion and safety concerns. The absence of a perimeter wall has left the school vulnerable to intruders, with drivers even cutting through the premises during lesson hours.

Former Headmaster Mr. Frank Armah, in that earlier report, expressed frustration over the lack of support from authorities despite numerous petitions. He called on old students to help restore the school’s dignity a call that Mr. Ahmed echoed during the recent visit.

The APS ’97 group has now taken up that mantle.

Their walk down memory lane marks the beginning of what they hope will be a larger movement, one that mobilises all APS alumni to contribute to the revitalisation of the school that shaped them.

A legacy project is already being considered to create sustainable change. Achimota Primary School remains a proud part of their identity. And as they look to the future, the APS ’97 year group does so while holding tightly to the hands of their past.

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