Wow, a picture speaks volume. It is sad to see such a degradation.

Honestly Mr Gyimah was able to maintain and manage both personnel and structures (building). During his days the lawns and fields were well kept. The dormitories and teacher(s) housing were clean and homy. I don't know if it stemmed from his strict discipline and style of management.

But everyone was held responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and academics. In my humble opinion the current student body needs to step up and maintain ( the dormitory and the lawns). We use to clean up every friday under Mr Gyimah's Administration.

No matter how much we pour money to build, the need to maintain the standard boils down to the student body (presently enrolled). Some one needs to step up and show leadership. It should not come from overseas but within the corridors of the school's administration.

Am not bashing or faulting anyone. Am not happy about the abject degradation of the school. Why are we contributing to build an assembly block while the overall infrastructure is in poor state. I think we have to re-define our priorities.


Am ready to assist in any form to bring the esprit de corps of OPASS.

Edna,

I strongly believe we have to set new goals and help re-build. We can solicit assistance from any of the International Aid Organisations (USAID, OXFAM etc.)

If we can create a good atmosphere for learning, we can motivate the current student body ( now and future) to take care of the school. Remember the school was built on solid concrete or hard walls. All we need is maintaining the infrastructure and amenities (like an old european city). I think the school lacks leadership.

The US and UK branches can adopt some of the buildings and ensure it is back to its old glory.

Let's come up with a plan of action and solve this degrading problem. Building an assemly block is great but I don't it is a priority looking at the state of the school. Who is in charge of the school. look at the bookstore, taking action sholud start now from those in charge.

50% of the problem can be solved at little expense.

May be this ideas will help:

1. Furniture and sanitation
2. buildings needs to be refurbished (may be a touch of paint)
3. Weed eaters, lawn mowers etc.
4. Accountability and responsibilty of the leadership.
5. Establishment of Family Day ( This will enable parents to see where the children dwell). That will be an immediate call for action.

How are we going to create a stable income (wealth) for the school. We can use the bold example of Opoku Ware School.

Well most of the GES funded schools are in dire need of makeover.

I don't know how to describe how I felt at the look of these snap shots, Snr Rash you did a professional job , thanks. This is a serious wear and tear that we cannot ignore at all, MPANINFO, please the assembly hall should be our latter project 'cos the school needs help immediately.The classrooms look terrible, where do they sit for lectures, the dorms, bathrooms, walls, I can't believe this. What do we do now.I hope the executives put their heads together and come up with the best solution ASAP. SOS FOR GREAT OPASS!!!!!!!!!!

I think we need to be stategic about this thing. Let's take one project, finish it and then move to the other. For instance, toilets and bathrooms - we get an estimate for the repairs - gather the money for it and then finish it at a go. Then we move to another and do the same. If the funds are there we will be able to do it. I think an Opanyin should be nominated to supevise and be at the toes of whichever contractor is given the job.

I implore Snr Rash to go back and make a list of things that need doing and then we will start from the one that needs most attention.

I implore all Mpanyinfo to think carefully about this and draw deep.

Long Live OPASS!

Team,

Money has always been a problem. Remember the Madoffs, the Soros, Warren Buffet and super rich Bill Gates.? These guys threaded the path of measured success. It is difficult to rake in money from afar.

People will always donate if they see progress and an effective roadmap for measuring progress and performance over time

1. We can apply for a grant or loan on a short term basis and use the revenue from the yearly meetings or social gathering to foot the payment. These should be recouped over time.

2. During this social gatherings, members can donate to the school fund set up by the steering committee and the committee can invest in a high yield market fund. Which will grow over time.

3. Each project should be short termed with an expected delivery date (quick fixes)

4. The school can team up with the nearby towns and set up for example an internet cybercafe at an affordable charge. This will grow overtime and attract the population.

5. Teaming up with CRIG to set up locale projects, using the student body to volunteer for the projects. This will create awareness among the local population and people will be willing to assist for the development of the school. After all the school is icon for the local population. We have to do something attractive and measurable.

5. The steering commitee can set up an audit group to monitor the progress at the school and ensure the people in charge are accountable for the goods and services provided.

You can not measure performance without accountability and motivation. With time all the managers at the school will see progress in a measured way. Some of these people are not opassians but still they are stakeholders to the collective whole.

I think we can do a whole lot to better the schools degrading infrastructure. We need a bold, swift and aggresive approach. I was there from '79 to 84. it was an icon of the East. Excellent students, good teachers, "Strict" Mr Gyimah and a cohort of others. Actually it wasn't great, but it was a good and attractive domain for the region.

Lets ponder over some of the graving questions!!!!

1. Can OPASS survive the next 10 or 20 years?

2. Can OPASS produce good leaders in this deplorable state?

3. Are you going to send your child, family member or recommend the school to someone from afar?

if your answer is no, then please be part the solving team

Thanks for the feedback, we are looking forward to the discussion with the Headmaster.

Folks let us save our school. This is our story for our children and the future.

I like the fact that these pictures have rub some raw nerves. Let see what happens from now on.

Have a blessed day, Mpayinfo.

Hi Doreen,

That is a wonderful webpage, very informative. I hope we can rake out some ideas.

Telecommunication and Transportation:

The school has at least 2 vehicles and a couple of phone booths. That is good. So we do not have to concentrate on that area for now.

Boys Dorm:

The boys dormitory is appalling, what is wrong with these boys? well boys will always be boys.

Kitchen:

I was humbled by the big smiles from the pantry/kitchen staff. Fantastic staff, amazing shots

Orchard:

where is the orange orchard by the main gate. Absolute hideout for the many.


Please view the pictures, select your favourite and comment,

Yaw, I think this is a good suggestion, I fully support this idea of yours. Without this site it could have been very difficult to communicate in anyway. The credit goes to Ben and the family . Time is money, we really appreciate this gesture of his. This is like a huge sacrifice he has bestored upon us. The celebration of the jubilee is just around the corner- is this gonna happen on this school compound in this condition?I'm glad we have more OLD OPASSIANS who have good suggestions like yours, let us get the ball rolling. Don't ever give up.

Kwame,

I would suggest you contact Mr Awuah or the school house, I haven't heard a whole lot about the old students back home.

I suggest we embedd the point of contacts for all the associations on either the US or UK webpages. Please let me know what you think.

How are you guys/gals doing in the UK.

Team,

Let's give kudos to all previous headmasters. I am a product of Mr Gyimah's era, I can only attest to his great feat and strict management. I know Mr Amo-Dako also championed and solved a lot of the school's problems.

The present headmaster is doing his best to keep the flame alive. He has a lot to do. We need to support and ensure the mission is accomplished.

Everyone has played a vital role in the development of the school. But we have to applaud the Awuahs and those involved in creating this platform. Am here because of this medium, I charged all and sundry to use this platform for the good of the school. No pettifogging........

OPASS @ 50 is here, we have to step up and make it a success and keep a page of history for tomorrow.

Please be part of the equation.

Thanks for your support,

Yaw Koranteng
'84 house 4

I was so sad at the kind of infrastructure in the school. I was just imaging whether my parents would have sent me to that school if it was in the state....Obviously No!
It is good to contribute for a worthy cause but before we do that, we need some answers from the leadership. When is the culture of maintenance going to be part and parcel of Ghanaian Institutions' vision and mission plans?. We need assurance from the leadership of the school that if we should contribute to rebuild the school, we are not going to see the same state of buildings 10 years down the lane.
Now to all of us, the rhetorical question is what are we doing to rebuild the school? Do we feel proud to be associated with an institution like that? I am guessing No
So I am calling on every Tom, Dick and Harry to contribute towards putting the school back to the state - 20 years or more that we left the comfort of our homes to live in those dormitories to sit for either O or A levels or both.
What is the PTA also doing about the state of the buildings in the school? The Alumni should not only be responsible for rebuilding as I put it ....The School Administrators and the PTA should let us know what their plans are...

I am suggesting each year group or two year groups adopt one of the houses or the buildings and maintain it on a regular basis. Then that year group will be responsible for painting the exterior and interior of the house. Can we do that?

My second suggestion is that the school should also set up a fund raising committee to come out with ideas for raising funds. If public schools in developed world, sell Chocolate bars and Chicken to raise funds, why not developing world?

I know Secondary Schools have always been cashless since the days of Adam, but that is no excuse for the school to be left at the peril of the weather.
I end by saying that, let us all contribute in diverse ways to bring our School back to a state that we can stand up and be a proud Opassian!

Dear Folks

As promised, I spoke with the current Headmaster to comfirm some items of the 'PHOTO' issue and the way forward.

As the incumbent Headmaster, he accepted the responsibility of the current situation of OPASS and added that, there are maintenance work currently going on at the classroom blocks and a new block is under construction.

Regarding the toilets at the Boys Dorm, he mentioned that, a comprehensive analysis has gone on for sometime now including a second look at the WATER SUPPLY system in the area so a modern and lasting toilets built to replace the old dilapidated ones.


The Headman stressed that, the previous government accepted most of the school's proposals for the maintenance work but as we know in Ghana, a new government comes to power and everything changes. He has however, managed to find a way round this situation and the maintenance work has just commenced once again.

He welcomes our support as alumni of the school. He also emphasised the importance of the successful completion of the Assembly before the Golden Jubilee Celebrations. The completion budget is 3billion Old Ghanaian Cedis!

My suggestion is, every Year Group should come up with some kind of contribution and just do it. Even to organise for a hired mower from Tafo to clear the weeds once every quarter is something.

I am leading my 85 people to do something tomorrow, what about you?

Niceday!


OTIS