The Komenda College of Education has held the 5th Brew Sam-Lawrence Creedy-Komeh-Ababio Memorial Lecture, with a call on educational institutions to strengthen governance structures that build lasting legacies of discipline and integrity in their products.

The lecture brought together scholars and educationists to reflect on the legacy of the institution’s founding fathers and their contributions to teacher education in Ghana.

The lecture, held at the college’s campus in Komenda in the Central Region, was on the theme: “The founding fathers of Komenda College of Education: Examining the legacy and contributions of Venerable Abraham Brew Sam (MBE).

Delivering the lecture, a researcher at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Professor Abeeku Essuman-Johnson, said the college must remain a shining bastion of the noble virtues of integrity, discipline and honesty held by its founding fathers.
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Prof. Essuman-Johnson observed that selfless leadership and commitment and service to the community were critical traits of the founding fathers that must not be lost on the current generation of management and students to make the needed impact on the Komenda community and Ghana in general.

A section of the audience

He highlighted the legacy of Abraham Brew Sam, tracing the history of the college, stressing that the critical role played by Abraham Brew Sam in the establishment and development of the institution was worthy of honour.

Prof. Essuman-Johnson noted that Brew Sam’s leadership and influence helped resolve issues relating to land, community relations and institutional development during the early years of the college.

He further described Brew Sam as a visionary community leader whose efforts contributed significantly to expanding access to teacher education in the Central Region.

He also reflected on the early experiences of students who trained at the college, noting that many had to study under difficult conditions.

According to him, during the early years of teacher training, students often had to cope with limited infrastructure, such as a lack of electricity and running water.

Prof. Essuman-Johnson also highlighted Brew Sam’s recognition for his service, noting that he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in acknowledgement of his contributions to community development and education.

Addressing the gathering, the Principal of the College, Professor Kwesi Nkum Wilson, said the memorial lecture formed an important part of the college’s anniversary celebrations and served as a platform to honour the vision and sacrifices of its founding fathers.

He noted that the institution was celebrating a significant milestone in its history, describing the anniversary as a moment to reflect on the legacy and achievements of the college.

“As we mark this milestone, we reflect on the vision and sacrifices of our founding fathers whose dedication laid the foundation for this great institution,” he said.

Prof. Wilson explained that the memorial lecture series was instituted to highlight the lives and contributions of the pioneers who established the college, including Lawrence Arthur Creedy Komeh- Ababio.

He expressed appreciation to the families of the founding fathers, particularly the family of Abraham Brew Sam, for their support in sustaining the lecture series.