COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS 2013/2014! JUST FREE

Fellow Akatakyie,

                           I humbly challenge and encourage all of you, the upcoming and ambitious owareans to take up this scholarship opportunity since "opportunity", they say, "comes but once". I wish you all the best in this worthy endeavour.

OWASS TOPS ALL AGAIN

  “The heights by which great men reached and kept were not attained by  sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night"    - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The above quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his classic poem, "The Ladder of St. Augustine" aptly and wholly captures the spirit and attitude of the Owarean. In other schools where students are chased about for not pursuing serious academic studies, it is ironical that students in OWASS are hunted for “over-mining” deep into the night popularly known as “Exte” in the school. As weird as this may seem, the well-intended efforts of teachers to slow down the intense academic exercise of students have wallowed in the quagmire of futility.

The recent (2012) results of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate examination (WASSSCE) were very impressive. Interestingly, while many other schools were counting and jubilating at the number of “6As” they recorded, Opoku Ware School was counting for only “8As”. Yes, I said eight because the unprecedented number of “8As” the school recorded this year will not permit them to lend just a fraction of their attention to the “7As” and the  “6As”. So far, a record of over ten “8As” has been confirmed. It is therefore no surprise that THE SCHOOL has constantly been ranked among the first five best schools in Ghana.

It is no wonder THE SCHOOL, as it humbly prides itself has consistently produced prominent people both within and outside the country whose contribution to the development of this dear nation cannot be over-emphasized. The world renowned spinal surgeon, Dr. Ohene Boachie Agyei (G8) who recently performed a spinal surgery on the former president of Ghana, John Agyekum Kuffour is a proud product of this noble institution.

Prof. Boakye-Yiadom (S), former Pro-Vice Chancellor of KNUST,  Mr. Francis Poku (A4, A60?), National Security Minister under the NPP administration,   Dr Richard K Okine, Inventor (C3) (fuel cells) holding several US patents, Prof Christian Nsiah (AM11) national athlete, Olympian and Bus Econs professor at Black Hills State University are but few  owareans (akatakyie) who have distinguished themselves and set the pace in their respective fields.

Other notable owareans (akatakyie) include:

• Dr. Felix Anyah (F209), CEO of Holy Trinity Spa in Sogakope.
• Mr. Martin Esson Benjamin (B53) Chief Executive of the Millennium Development Authority
• Kofi Nsiah Poku(O) CEO of Kinapharma Ltd,
• Ken Kuranchie Managing Editor, Daily Searchlight,
• Bishop George Adjeman, Founder, Winners Chapel Ghana,
• Mr. Joe Mensah (V53), Country General Manager, IBM Ghana,
• John Boadu Deputy Communications Director, NPP,
• Dr Kofi Amoah (J16), CEO Progeny Ventures (Citizen Kofi), chairman CAN 2008 LOC,
• Mr. P. V. Obeng (N28), former Member of the PNDC and Chairman of the Committee of Secretaries 
• Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi (W215) of GIMPA and former NDC Minister of State,
• Prof Ohene Adjei ,CEO Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
• Nana Akuoko Sarpong (Q125) Agogo Manhene,
• Dr. Kwame Barwuah Edusei (O239) of the EO Group and formerly Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland and the US
•  Mr. Jacob Osei-Yeboah (AH 125) Independent Presidential Candidate in the 2012 elections
•  Mr. Martin Brobbey (AH7), CEO of Lexta Ltd, suppliers of YAZZ products

 The list is indeed endless.

The success of Owareans has been attributed to a number of factors. Personally, I believe that the sheer determination to succeed and godly fear of the students are the open secret of all owareans. The school’s stable religious foundation has also gone a long way to positively shape the lives of students and instill a strong sense of discipline in them.  We would therefore continue to show our heartfelt gratitude to THE SCHOOL for taking the pains to go through a rigorous and meticulous selection process to ensure that excellent minds with strong moral principles are recruited into the school to compete with one another each and every year.

The benefits the students get from the opportunity to study and compete with intelligent chaps like the Azunres (BC 103), the Aubreys, the Vincents, the BF 48s, and many others are immense. As iron sharpens iron, the students’ marvelous attitude, hunger for success and academic brilliance continue to rub off on one another and inspire them to go the extra mile.

Detailed Analysis of Opoku Ware School's
 2012 academic results

Long live the akatakyie brotherhood. Long live the current headmaster, Mr. Mathew Oppong Mensah, who demonstrably “took us through sofo line” anytime we had accounting lessons. Long live THE SCHOOL, OWASS.

THE STATE OF KOMFO ANOKYE INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL TODAY (2)

 This is the second article of "THE STATE OF KOMFO ANOKYE INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL"

 THE STUDENTS OF KOMFO ANOKYE SCHOOL

In fact, the success story of Komfo Anokye Educational Complex would never be complete if the students who filled this reputable institution up are relegated to the background. Students from all walks of life and from across the length and breadth of the country could be found in the school. In fact, the school grew to become the only school in Ashanti region with the most diverse social, religious, economic, cultural and ethnic background. Though it is a fact that many of the students were denizens of the Kumasi Metropolis, many people from Sefwi in the Western Region, Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region and even parts of the Nothern Region could also be found in the school. The school was able to attract people from such distant places due to the fact that it was one of the earliest schools in the country to introduce a quality boarding system.

In many schools where food vendors are perceived and valued as mere food sellers, the opposite was the case in a school like Komfo Anokye. In Anokye, food vendors were part of the social fabric of the school. Not only did they bond with and show genuine care for the students, they served us with delectable, mouth-watering and sumptuous meals that would continue to stay in our minds for years. Indeed, who can honestly forget Peter Maame “moo”, Buhyira, and the rest?  What bothers me personally has to do with the fact that their appetizing food was expensive and worse of all scanty, no matter how much one bought. Or probably, it could be because I was ‘broke’ then.

We still relish and savor the taste we enjoyed from these meals. I still believe that even now some of the past students would rush to the school to get a bowl of Peter Maame if granted the opportunity. Anytime some of the past students of Komfo Anokye pay a visit to their alma mater, it is absolutely no surprise that their first point of call is the canteen to see if Peter Maame and Buhyira are still operating. Yes, we find it hard to resist the tasty treats we got served from these talented cooks. 

Continue to the last series of this article entitled " KOMFO ANOKYE SCHOOL : THE PAST VERSUS NOW" here:  http://sirmaxi.blogspot.com/2012/09/venditta-electronics.html

THE STATE OF KOMFO ANOKYE SCHOOL TODAY

KOMFO ANOKYE SCHOOL IN RETROSPECT

I wonder how the joy of one’s childhood would be complete when a chunk of it is not spent in a school like Komfo Anokye International Preparatory School. What a school! Many people would agree with me that Komfo Anokye School is one of the best schools the Kumasi Metropolis has ever produced.During its hey-day in the late 1990s and early 2000s, no school, and I repeat with extreme emphasis and sheer pride, no school was comparable to this great institution.

That school was NOT a preparatory school if you ask me. It was certainly a University. No wonder the school continued to pride itself as the mini university. During my days there, I used to beam with pride when one of the school’s long buses passed by in front of our house with the inscription “MINI UNIVERSITY” boldly scribbled at the back. Sometimes I used to beat my chest in total excitement and enthusiastically point it out to my friends in other schools when our gigantic and attractive buses passed. It did not take much time for my friends to start referring to me as ‘mini university’.

Everything within the four walls of the school invariably contributed to the excitement we had in the school. From the Proprietor, Mr. J.K Amponsah,(May His Soul Rest In Peace) headmasters, through the bursary, teachers, the food sellers, to the dynamic student body, all made education in the school worthwhile and fun-filled. Anytime the proprietor assembled us to advice us, the phrase “let the bygones be bygones” and “woe betides you” were a given. The teachers also made indelible impressions on us with their insightful teaching experience, commitment, humour, understanding and extreme tolerance. Paa Wuli, Nana Bobo aka Sir Base, Mr. Jawala, Mr. Kuffour, Mr. Nsiah, Mr. Saint are but few of the teachers who easily come to mind.

You may kindly read the continuation of this article captioned "THE STUDENTS OF KOMFO ANOKYE" here : http://sirmaxi.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-state-of-komfo-anokye-international.html

CREATE YOUR OWN FAN PAGE AND A BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES

Have you wondered how to create a quick, easy and beautiful website for your business? Then you are NOT alone. Each and everyday, millions of people go through the same dilemma. In this highly competitive and highly technological global village the world now finds itself, operating a business , no matter how small it is without a web site is like winking at a pretty girl in the dark; Nobody sees what you are doing except you alone.

This will be very catastrophic for a new business that wants to succeed. However, success does not come easily. It only comes after gaining the attention of the world and attracting enthusiastic people to your product or service. Business web sites serve as a window that allows people to peep into your business and a door that allows them to walk right into your business.

In the light of this, it is understandable why many businesses spend so much time, energy and resources into getting web sites for their business. However for small and new businesses, the road to getting a business website is not an easy one at all. It is extremely obvious that many people lack the expert technical knowledge to create and design their own websites. Also, apart from the huge investment it requires from employing the services of a website designer, managing websites can be overwhelming for some new users who have little technical knowledge. This is because some web sites are sophisticated and possess a high learning curve.

Should new businesses throw their hands in despair? Should they give up because of the numerous problems associated with creating a website for their business?  Certainly NOT. This Blog is essentially created to help small and up-coming businesses to conveniently create and design their own web sites easily and as quickly as possible. In short, YOU can create, design and manage your own web site to suit your taste, preference and desire without hiring the services of a web designer.  Does this sound too good to be true? Just read on.

GET YOUR OWN WEBSITE NOW

 You might be wondering how this can be done. It is very simple and straightforward. As already noted, for new businesses the creation of a web site can be frustrating and daunting. Interestingly, you can avoid all the frustrations, disappointments and inconveniences that new businesses face at the marketing stage of their idea, product or service.

PAGE2SITE.COM is a site that is solely committed to helping new businesses to create a convenient and effective web site to promote their product or service within the shortest possible time by using their facebook fan page address. Yes, you can use your facebook fan page address to create and manage your own web site for free.

It is simple, isn’t it? Just think of how easy it is to create and manage your own facebook fan page. It is just like managing your own facebook profile. There is absolutely NO need for any expert technical knowledge since you already know all that is needed to create a facebook fan page and manage it. For especially small businesses, the value of a facebook fan page can never be underestimated. Facebook fan page affords you the maneuverability, flexibility, and comfort in uploading your pictures and videos on your fan page. Now, think of converting this facebook fan page into your own commercial start-up website.

That is the invaluable opportunity that PAGE2SITE.COM affords you. Building your own web site with PAGE2SITE.COM using your facebook fan page takes only a ONE CLICK. The end product is a stunning, eye-catching and beautiful website which can be customized with more enhancing features from PAGE2SITE.COM site to suit your taste and preference.

BENEFITS FROM USING PAGE2SITE.COM TO CREATE YOUR SITE

How beneficial it is to create my web site with PAGE2SITE.COM site using my face book fan page address? This is indeed a great question if you ask me. Because every rational economic being wants to maximize his/her benefits and minimize his/her losses. We simply understand such sentiments of especially small businesses who want the best for their business.

With PAGE2SITE.COM, the benefits are amazingly numerous. It affords our cherished clients the following:

• Easy control of site’s appearance: Our intuitive control panel grants you the latitude to control all aspects of your page, including your selected template and color theme

• Getting in touch with visitors: PAGE2SITE.COM site allows you to easily collect newsletter registrations and let your site’s visitors contact you directly. You can also use our messaging system to view your messages, export them to a text file or have them delivered directly to your email

• An ever growing directory of widgets: It offers your visitors the best web widgets with a single click. Moreover, we are constantly adding widgets and features and based upon request your widget can also be featured on our site

• Feature all your online content in one page: This is truly amazing stuff. You can show your facebook, twitter, flickr and more in a single place, with a common theme and message.

• Beautiful templates to suit your personal taste and needs

• No Technical Knowledge Required: Our site allows you to use facebook to easily control your website content. There is therefore apparently no need to learn a new system because you already know everything you need.

• Powerful Tools: Our site boasts of many powerful tool and more are added each and every week.

START NOW : STEPS

Let’s begin step by step and you will indeed enjoy the experience. It is relatively simple.

1. Open a facebook fan page: This is the first step of the whole process. Go to www.facebook.com and sign up for a facebook fan page if you do NOT have one already.
2. Fill basic information (business type, address, phone, and logo): You will be required to fill in basic information such as the type of your business, your business address, telephone number and business logo.

3. Upload cover images: The cover images are the pictures that will greet visitors when they visit your fan page. They are normally huge and imposing. Your pictures should speak volumes about your business

4. Upload photos of recent project, your team or just fun/smart photos: You can also upload other relevant photos onto your fan page. It could be recent projects that were undertaken, or your business team or any other exciting pictures about your business and yourself.

5. Post about things that interest your target audience: The success of your business can be phenomenal if you are able to engage, excite and pull your target audience. This could be challenging. This also depends on the kind of business you are dealing in. For example, if you are operating a fitness centre, you can upload pictures and videos about your training routines and sessions, the machines you use, etc. You can also regularly provide health and fitness tips on your page. The sincere testimony of those who have benefited from your business or program on your page can also be inspiring and helpful.

6. Create a website at page2site.com: This is the most important step towards creating your dream website. After creating your facebook fan page and designing it with photos and cover images, the next step is to proceed to PAGE2SITE.COM to convert your facebook fan page address into your own website. It is very straightforward. At PAGE2SITE.COM, there is a rectangular box where you are supposed to enter your facebook fan page URL address. And you are done! Then, click enter to view your personal beautiful website. This requires NO time, learning or money. 

7. Choose a template: There are various colorful templates available on PAGE2SITE.COM site to make your website different and unique.

8. Enrich website with customizations such as background image, custom pages: Bring your website to live by customizing it with our free enhancing features like background image, custom pages, etc.

9. Spread the word: We believe you have had a wonderful time creating and designing your website. Managing it too is easy. Now your anxieties about acquiring a website to promote your business are cleared. You can now go on and have a good time marketing your product/service with the greatest ease. We wish you all the best in your business. We know that you cannot keep quiet about this awesome website-creation moment. Go ahead and spread the word. Let others know about this opportunity and benefit from it just as you have benefited from it. Thank you.

UNSPOKEN THOUGHTS OF A SMILING BLACKMAN

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

                                                                                 

When Dr. King said the above powerful words in his famous "I HAVE A DREAM" speech on August 28, 1963 during the march on Washington, a minority of people believed that King’s dream could one day become a reality. Such people were justified to think that way because of the prevailing atmosphere of intense racial prejudice that existed at the time. However, none or few who believed in King’s dream ever thought that the freedom that many freedom fighters died for could be abused and trampled upon by the current generation. By the current generation, I am clearly referring to the hip hop generation.

True, today both blacks and whites can sit in the same bus. Thanks to Rosa Parks. Today despite very mild racial undertones, blacks and whites can learn in the same classroom benefiting from the same quality education. More significant is the fact that blacks can now walk freely on the streets without being pointed at, mocked at or bananas being hurled at them. Blacks have come a long way.

Interestingly, the street has now being “captured” by these same blacks who were frightened to stroll down on it few years ago. It saddens me that the streets have been captured for the wrong reasons though. The “Streets” has oftentimes been perceived as the hiding place for people dealing in drugs, armed robbery and other crimes. What is more worrying is that, gangster rappers who claim to belong to the streets glorify these social vices. And they say they are black people. I prefer to call them black niggers.

Yes, there are blacks on the street. Some of them can be termed as “street” niggers. They were there through no fault of theirs. They were there because their parents decided to be selfish. The father couldn’t control his animalistic sexual desires. All he wanted was to satisfy his sexual urge. The mother might be seduced. Or probably, she decided to sell her body for temporary benefits. Whatever the case is, the result of their irresponsible act is an unwanted pregnancy and an unfortunate child. The result is an unfortunate child who will be deprived of all the basic necessities, the affection, care and love that every child needs. The result is an unfortunate child who will need to provide for himself like a 21year old when he is just 8. The result is me, an angry black man.

Martin Luther King Jr.

I guess by now the whole America understands why I am angry. Why wouldn’t I be when what most blacks are concerned of is having fun and “chilling”? Why wouldn’t I be when the current generation of black people doesn’t think of the future generation like Martin Luther did for us? Where is the love now?

America is a land of opportunities. No matter the amount of racial tension that lingers on, the progress we have made as a country is phenomenal. To crown it all, we have a black president now. Many freedom fighters in the past yearned to see our day. We are fortunate to live in these times. Unfortunately, we don’t value it.

Our own fellow black people are currently doing a lot of injustice to us than white people. Because of our selfish desires, many black people have deprived many children of a wonderful future they could have enjoyed in this great nation. What is more, the hip hop community keeps adding salt to injury when they falsely associate themselves with the “streets” and give those on the streets a bad public image. The hip-hop community continues to do the blacks on the street a great disservice by misrepresenting them through their corrupt, debasing and violent music. They keep making everybody believe that they eat and sleep on the street through their music whilst in actual fact they stay “shinning” in their ill-gotten mansions and cars.

The vulnerable street children who are trying hard to fight through the harsh reality of life all by themselves are seriously marginalized because of the bad perception that the public has of them, thanks to hip hop. The fact is it is NOT all street niggers who are drug dealers, violent, armed robbers and gun lovers. Most of them are noble. And they need us. They need our love and support to survive.

The next civil war in America will not be between blacks and whites. It will not be between blacks and any other race for that matter. It will be among blacks. It will be between a Blackman and a Blackman. Most black people are often angry. No wonder the whites have noticed this. They are angry NOT only because of the unfair economic system which is improving anyway. They are rather angry at the injustice perpetrated by their own black people, their own brothers and sisters. Nobody knows when the anger that is boiling up within many unfairly treated black children by their own kinsmen will finally explode.

These are my unspoken thoughts. I have never said it. I am just thinking aloud.

THE STATE OF KOMFO ANOKYE INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL TODAY

This is the last series of the article "THE STATE OF KOMFO ANOKYE INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL TODAY".

KOMFO ANOKYE SCHOOL: THE PAST VERSUS NOW

The behaviour of the students in the school is also a subject of immense interest. One would be far from wrong if he/she attributes the popularity of the school to the students. All sorts of students could be found in the school; the ‘sharks’, the ‘ballers’, the fools, the smokers, the womanizers, the ‘dada bees’, the hustlers, the ‘abode3s’,etc. Speaking of the ab)de3s, it came to a time in the history of the school when you will not dare provoke somebody to a brawl without a ‘juju’ ring in your pocket. The distinctive characters of the student body were as unique much as it was entertaining.  No wonder the students themselves composed this interesting song:

Anokye de3, y3n nsa mu oo!

Anokye de3, y3nnsa mu oo!

Y3gye agyemifo), yegye annyansafo),

Yegye nkwaseafo), yegye animdefo),

3nti Anokye de3, yennsa mu oo!!!

To wit, Komfo Anokye school does not discriminate and which was very true.

 Even though it is often said that nobody has ever obtained 10 ones in the BECE exams in the history of the school (really?), the school has indisputably produced many intelligent students who have rose steadily to become prominent men and women in the country. Among whom are doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, etc.

As the old adage goes, “anything that has a beginning has an end”. The interesting days of Komfo Anokye school, believe it or not, has come to a sad end. The current generation of students in Komfo Anokye school now doesn’t have any idea the sort of fun we the past students had when we were there. If I could turn back the hands of time, Komfo Anokye Intenational Preparatory School will definitely be the school I will be delighted to attend again.

The success and impact of this noble school has continued to reverberate even after the apparent decline of the school. For instance, the school now has a very vibrant old students association both in Ghana and abroad whilst other preparatory schools struggles to form one. This is particularly phenomenal in a country where much attention is accorded the second cycle schools at the expense of the primary and Junior High schools. Such is the spirit of great Komfo Anokye! Let us therefore cherish the association we have and work hard to intensify the bonds of love that exist amongst us. Long Live Komfo Anokye Preparatory Internation School!! Long live all the old students!! Long Live Mr. J.K. Amponsah ( oh damn, I forgot he is dead)