St. Roses Senior High School, Akwatia in the Eastern region, has unveiled the busts of the four Founding Dominican Order sisters from Speyer, Germany. They include, Rev Sister Victricia Koch, Rev. Sr. Beatrix Koob, Rev Sr. Zita Simon and Rev. Sr. Solamen Ott.
These early missionary nuns were invited to Ghana by the late Archbishop Bishop Bowers in 1966 during his tenure as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra. The School started as a training college and transitioned into a secondary school in 1969.
Speaking at the 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Attorney General (AG), Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah- Opong who completed the school in 1985, was full of appreciation to the Revered Sisters and teaching staff for the quality education and ethics taught in the school which she said has been the bedrock of her career in the judiciary. She entreated students to imbibe discipline and faith stating that “Education without religion will not be the type of education that will perpetuate democracy”
The Headmistress of the school Mrs. Margaret Bangfu was full of praise for the founding mothers of the school. She added that the clamour for Catholic schools during the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) of BECE candidates is ample evidence that Catholic schools are more relevant than before. She called for greater support from the state to the Catholic Educational unit to perform its mandate of ensuring sound moral discipline in education.
In his speech as chairman of the occasion, the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua and the Episcopal Chairman for health, Most Reverend Joseph Afrifah- Agyekum stressed the Catholic Church’s commitment to ensure standards are not compromised in the school.
There were goodwill messages from previous principals of the school including Rev. Solamen Ott , the first substantive headmistress and Mrs Victoria Amaning, the first Ghanaian head. Other messages came from the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin the II, the Akwatiahene Osabarima Kofi Boateng II, The Ghana Education Service, Hon. Baba Jamal, MP for Akwatia as well as Rev Father Andrew Campbell who served as school chaplain for 33years.
Two students , Timtooni Raihana Baba and Mercy Merrilyn Fiagbenu who had the overall best 2014 WASSCE results and 8As in science, were presented with book prizes sponsored by the MTN Ghana foundation and UMB bank as well as cash prizes presented by the St Roses Old Students association, (ROSA). Other prizes were also sponsored by the PTA and the Central Planning Committee to excelling students and long serving teachers.
Parents and invited guests were thrilled by the display of the St Roses Airforce Cadets and St Roses Regimental band led by Commander Genevieve Duodo. An exhibition by students covered innovations in science, ICT, clothing and textiles, food and nutrition amongst others. The school currently has a population of 1138 students with 50 teachers.
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Source: St Roses Senior High School