Ashaiman Senior High School has celebrated its 35th anniversary with a call for renewed investment, strengthened security, and urgent infrastructure expansion.
Speaking at the ceremony on Saturday, November 15, Headmistress Jemima Quarshie celebrated the school’s journey while emphasising the pressing needs that demand immediate attention.
“We gather not merely to mark the passage of time, but to honour a journey, one shaped by sacrifice, resilience, and vision. We salute our founding pioneers, whose dream of a school rooted in discipline and dignity has blossomed into a vibrant institution of learning and transformation. Thirty-five years ago, this school stood as a promise. Today, it stands as proof,” she said.
Tracing the school’s history, she noted that Ashaiman SHS was established in 1990 by the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government in response to the educational needs of the growing Ashaiman community.
Under its pioneering headmaster, the late Cornelius Amekugee, the school quickly distinguished itself, particularly in agricultural studies, earning accolades at municipal, regional, and national levels.
The school, which began with just 30 students, five teachers, and no non-teaching staff, initially ran two programmes: Agricultural Science and a combined vocational track of Home Economics and Visual Arts.
The first batch graduated in 1993.
Mrs. Quarshie paid tribute to the individuals whose dedication shaped the school’s early years, including Mr. Peter Droefenu, Mr. Alfred Sakplavi-Biko, Mr. Emmanuel Ofoe Fiemawhle, Mrs. Cynthia Obuo Nti, Mr. Kojo Kafui Ayibor, and Mr. Jerome Courage Kwadzodei.
A bust was unveiled in honour of its first headmaster, Mr. Cornelius Maku Amekugee, donated by alumna Ms. Nyatume Yayra of the 1997 year group.
Presenting the school’s current state, the headmistress revealed significant growth both in numbers and academic offerings.
Ashaiman SHS now runs six programmes: General Science, General Arts, Visual Arts, Business, Home Economics, and Agricultural Science.
However, she highlighted a notable gender disparity:
Boys: 360 (28.9%)
Girls: 886 (71.1%)
Total population: 1,246
Staff strength stands at 120, comprising 99 teaching and 21 non-teaching staff.
Despite stretched infrastructure, she said, the school continues to nurture a culture of service, creativity, and resilience.
Mrs. Quarshie celebrated the school’s improved discipline, crediting the counselling department and the Dean of Discipline for instilling a culture of respect and responsibility.
The school’s consistent qualification for the National Science and Mathematics Quiz since 2014, she noted, reflects its rising academic strength.
In the last four years, Ashaiman SHS has reached the one-eighth national stage multiple times, an achievement she attributed to dedicated teachers and supportive parents and sponsors, including the Ashaiman regent, Nii Annan Adjor; Member of Parliament for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey; and Founder and Director of New Crystal Health Services, Dr. Wisdom Amegbletor.
She also noted that the school continues to excel in debates, cultural activities, drama, and sports.
Its drama group recently earned awards such as Best Stage Management, Best Costume, and Best Entertaining School at Uncle Ebo Whyte’s national drama competition.
Academic performance at WASSCE, she said, has also improved, with six As and two Bs recorded in 2023, and seven As and one B in 2024.
Despite the progress, Mrs. Quarshie noted the most pressing challenges the school is facing.
The school’s boreholes, she said, require mechanisation and refurbishment, and two pumping machines are urgently needed to stabilise water access.
Perhaps most critical is the school’s limited security arrangement: one official security personnel and one PTA-employed guard.
“This is grossly inadequate,” she stressed, warning that it exposes staff, students, and property to unnecessary risk. She appealed for a “robust, multi-layered security framework” befitting the school’s size and reputation.
Though Ashaiman SHS attained boarding status in 2020, the facility caters only to girls. Mrs. Quarshie described this as a “glaring imbalance” that denies boys equal access to academic support, discipline, and the holistic benefits of boarding life.
A boys’ dormitory, she said, must be prioritised to:
Promote gender parity
Improve academic performance
Enhance punctuality and attendance
Strengthen discipline and school spirit
She acknowledged municipal support for the girls’ dormitory but appealed for similar intervention for boys, urging the assembly to make strategic use of the land adjacent to the current facility.
Mrs. Quarshie called on the Ghana Water Company to release land to enable the construction of staff bungalows, classrooms, and other facilities.
She also lamented the lack of an official vehicle and a school bus.
“At present, I use my private car for official duties,” she said, highlighting the urgency of a 60-seater bus for academic and co-curricular engagements.
Two classroom blocks, one near completion under GETFund and the other abandoned at the foundation level, remain unused.
Completing these, she said, would greatly improve learning conditions and help the school transition into a single-track institution.
“These are not complaints,” she emphasised. “They are calls for partnership, for support, for shared responsibility.”
Looking ahead, Mrs. Quarshie reaffirmed the school’s commitment to its theme: Unlocking Potentials, Embracing 21st Century Skills for a Brighter Tomorrow.
She envisioned a future where every learner is digitally literate and empowered to thrive in a technology-driven world, supported by modern laboratories, smart classrooms, and a strengthened culture of mentorship.
She further called for unity and continued investment. We call on our alumni, stakeholders, and friends to join us not just in celebration, but in commitment. Let us build a legacy of excellence together. Let Ashaiman SHS be known not only for its past but also for its promise.”
