Digital skills, co-curricular activities key to excellence – Deputy Minister

By Elizabeth PUNSU, Apam

The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has urged students to embrace digital skills alongside co-curricular activities, describing them as essential tools for achieving true academic excellence in today’s world.

Speaking at the 72nd anniversary celebration of Apam Senior High School, the Deputy Minister emphasised that education was no longer defined solely by high grades, but by a strong, curious mind that thinks, solves problems and keeps learning long after the bell rings.

He noted that technology had become “the new chalk and slate” for modern learning, with a single tablet capable of opening doors to a thousand libraries.

Mr. Gyan-Mensah indicated that digital literacy is now a “superpower” that could give students an edge in any profession — from medicine and engineering to farming and entrepreneurship.

“Your smartphone, tablet and laptop can be a portal to the world’s greatest classrooms, if only you use them wisely. Use platforms like YouTube, Khan Academy and Canva for self-paced learning in coding, graphic design, economics, algebra and more,” he said.

He encouraged the students to take advantage of the school’s two computer labs and robotics club to master office applications, improve typing skills and learn coding to help solve community problems.

Turning to co-curricular activities, Mr. Gyan-Mensah stressed their equal importance in shaping well-rounded leaders. Sports, debates, drama, music and service clubs, he explained, build teamwork, resilience, emotional intelligence and confidence, which ultimately feed back into academic performance.

“Co-curricular life is not extra; it is essential. It is where leaders are formed. Every student thrives best in an environment that aligns with their natural talents,” he said.

APASS’ year of triumphs
Headmistress of Apam SHS, Comfort Essah-Amoaful, presenting her speech, used the occasion to celebrate the school’s remarkable achievements over the past year.

Team APASS Cadet Corps placed 4th out of 24 schools in the National Drill Competition held in Accra on May 10, 2024, with the overall best commander award going to Caleb Anani Elorm of Great APASS. The Corps also won the Zonal Drill Competition at Swedru School of Business in 2025.

Additionally, the school placed first in the Inter-School Zonal Athletics Competition and a strong showing in the Regional Super Zonal Athletics Competition.

The school won the Newmont Golden Journey Award on October 3, 2024 for “most impressive run,” earning a spot among the 27 best-seeded schools in the country.

Robotics world stage

The school’s robotics team members were victors in the “Bottled Sumo Unlimited Challenge,” earning the right to represent Ghana at the World Robofest Competition in Michigan, USA in 2025, where they placed second globally. This marked their second successive world appearance.

The History Club won zonal, regional and national trophies in the 68th Independence Day Quiz. Meanwhile, the Debaters Club emerged winners of the “World Saving Day Debate and Poetry Competition.”

Mrs. Amoaful lauded the dedication of staff and students, but admitted that infrastructural and logistical challenges were hampering progress.

She further listed urgent needs, including completion of an 18-unit classroom block to reduce congestion, finishing a 240-capacity boys’ dormitory, acquiring a school bus for educational programmes and constructing an assembly hall to accommodate the growing student population.

“We appeal to our cherished old students (ASSOSA), benevolent individuals, corporate organisations and the government to partner with us in addressing these needs. Your support over the years has brought us this far, and we are counting on you to push us to greater heights,” she added.

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