Professor Akwasi Asabere Ameyaw, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, has charged students to think of what they could do to make the nation great and strong and remain committed to self-discipline and hard work.
This, he said, would bring out the good things in them.
Prof Ameyaw was speaking at the 60th Anniversary Speech and Prize-given Day of Prempeh College in Kumasi at the weekend.
The occasion was also used to mark the Fourth Founding Fathers and Pioneer Students’ Day of the school.
The anniversary, which attracted Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chiefs, Heads of Educational institutions, the Clergy, Service Commanders, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives, was on the theme: “Prempeh College at 60, the past, present and future.”
Prof Ameyaw commended all those who had contributed towards the moral and academic excellence of the school.
In an address read on his behalf, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, advised the students to avoid complacency and study hard to continue to lift high the “flame” of the school.
He said there was the need for the students to take advantage of the opportunity and the facilities in the school to build their future.
Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, Board Chairman of the College, said education remained the key to national development and there was therefore the need for past and current students to commit themselves to make the school always among the best in the country.
Mr Emmanuel Kwabena Yeboah, Headmaster, said there was a lot of challenges facing the school, which included the need to expand the dormitories and staff bungalows and the maintenance of existing facilities especially the science laboratories, roads and staff accommodation.
He said facilities for the Information Communications Technology were woefully inadequate as most of the computers available had broken down.
Dr Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, National President of the old Boys’ Association and Oheneba Adusei Poku, an old student were honoured with citations for their meritorious contributions to the progress and development of the school.
The award for the longest serving teacher went to Mr K. A. Agyenim Boateng who had taught in the school for 24 years, while Mr Norgan Mohammed was also honoured as the longest serving non-teaching staff spanning 34 years.
Mr Godfred Owusu-Tetteh Nortey was adjudged the best non-teaching staff.