Michael Konadu urges Mfantsipim students to uphold enduring values

By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Cape Coast

Michael Konadu, a member of the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA)1995 Year Group, has called on students to uphold the school’s enduring values of audacity, discipline and adaptation as the institution prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary next year.

He reminded students that carrying the legacy of Mfantsipim is both “a privilege and a responsibility”.

“One year from now, when the school turns 150, the question will not be what our founders did. The question will be, what did you do with what they gave you?” he said.

Mr. Konadu was speaking at the 149th anniversary celebration speech and prize giving day of Mfantsipim School at Cape Coast in Central Region.

It was themed ‘Mfantsipim at 149 Years – Sustaining Legacy, Building Excellence’.

He paid glowing tribute to the early founders of Mfantsipim, saying: “They are the visionaries who lit a fire – not to keep warm or cook by, but a fire to see by, a fire to illuminate a path that didn’t yet exist”.

Mr. Konadu explained that the founders’ decision to establish an educational institution at a time when the concept of Africans educating themselves was revolutionary embodied audacity, first of the three enduring values.

He recounted personal anecdotes from his schooldays, including his unexpected experience in pole-vaulting, which he said taught him the essence of courage and readiness to try.

“That was not athletics. That was Mfantsipim noting you don’t need to be ready – you need to be willing. That is audacity,” he explained.

He also praised the school’s recent success in the National Science and Maths Quiz, wherein Mfantsipim triumphed over arch-rivals Prempeh College to win back-to-back championships.

He challenged students to embrace hard work and perseverance, emphasising that true excellence is built on consistency and resilience.

“Discipline sounds like rules and restrictions, but it is the most radical form of freedom you will ever know,” he said.

“Everybody loves the trophy moment, but nobody wants to talk about the 4 a.m. wake-ups, the endless practice, the unglamorous grind.” Mr. Konadu added.

Drawing on experiences from his professional and academic life, he recounted how he once scored 92 percent in a graduate engineering course in the United States – only to discover that the class average was above 95.

“That was my first encounter with a different level of excellence. From that day, I learned that excellence is not a destination; it is a constantly moving target. And discipline is what keeps you in the race.” he said.

Mr. Konadu urged students not to lose sight of these principles after leaving Mfantsipim, warning against complacency and shortcuts.

“Do not let that be your story. Ghana does not need more talkers. We need builders, people who will do the unglamorous work of fixing broken systems and innovating solutions,” he said.

Divine Agbedzinu Akaba, 1985 Year Group Chairman, urged students and alumni to uphold the enduring legacy of hope, resilience and excellence that has defined the nation’s premier secondary school.

“Mfantsipim stands 149 years strong – still leading, still setting the pace and still the reference point for holistic and excellent education in Ghana and beyond,” he declared.

He highlighted contributions of MOBA 85 to the school’s achievement, such as the establishment of a fully-equipped ICT Centre in 2005 among others.

Headmaster Rev. Ebenezer Kobina Aidoo reminded the gathering that Mfantsipim’s story is not only one of longevity but of enduring vision and faith.

“This day is not merely a celebration of years, but a solemn reaffirmation of a vision – a vision that began in 1876 when a few faithful men lit a flame that has never gone out,” he said.

Mr. Aidoo stressed that excellence at the school is a discipline, not an event.

“For 149 years this union of excellence and sacrifice has been our strength, sustaining a legacy that no storm of life has been able to erode,” he said.

The Head Boy of Mfantsipim School, Papa Martey Anim Atoklo, pointed out that students have actively participated in initiatives which promote discipline, unity and academic engagement.

The school, he said, continues to invest in infrastructure and resources that support both academic and co-curricular activities.

Recent upgrades, he noted, include improvements to classrooms, expansion of library resources and the acquisition of new equipment for sports and music programmes. These efforts aimed to provide students with holistic education that balances intellectual, spiritual and physical growth.

Explaining further, Master Atoklo called on students to uphold the traditions of respect, integrity and service that have long defined the school.

He also extended gratitude to parents, guardians and alumni for their continued support, noting that their contributions have been instrumental in sustaining the school’s programmes and initiatives.

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