HEADMISTRESS WELCOME ADDRESS
My Lord Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hillard Dela Dogbe, the Board of Bishops, Missionaries and Church Executives, Presiding Elders, Rev. Ministers Here Present, Board Chairman of the School, Members of Staff, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We thank the Lord Almighty for making it possible for us to host such a gathering and to welcome our August visitors from America and South Africa.
Indeed, it is the first of its kind in the History of the church and the school to receive the Honourable Board of Bishops, Missionaries, and gallant men and women of God in our midst.
As Chief Pastors and Faithful Stewards, you have gone out of your comfort zones and various destinations and have come down to Ghana to fulfil the ministerial duty of serving God andneeds of others, of which caring for the we are sure to be beneficiaries as a school.
My Lord Bishop, President, permit me to highlight in the brief History of the school some achievements and challenges.
The school was founded by the Late Rev. Dr. Godfred Ngoli Zormelo, the then Senior Bishop’s Deputy of the Western West African Episcopal District of The A.M.E Zion Church, with the vision of promoting the girl child education in the community as embedded in the school’s vision.
Schools Vision
“Become an Excellent Institution for Holistic Training and Promotion of Girl Child Education and Development through Sound Moral and Spiritual Teachings”.
This vision was supported by Mr. Abraham Inkoom, a church leader of J.C. Price Society, who became the school’s first Board of Governors Chairman. The Late Rev. Frank Swanzy Essien, who was the District Director of Education for the Effutu Education Directorate at Winneba, also gave the approval of the school’s establishment as well as its acquisition of WAEC accreditation for students to write the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The school commenced with four girls in October 2003, and on the 13th of April 2004, it was formally inaugurated with 20 girls by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Matthew Warren Brown. During this period, the administration of the school was first headed by Mrs. Olivia Asante and assisted by the Late Mrs. Thelma Essuman and Mr. George Kobina Aihoon. In addition, they worked with five committed graduate teachers.
In August 2005, Rev. Mrs. Helena Swanzy Essien took over the administration of the school from Mrs. Olivia Asante. Our dedicated and efficient leader gradually led the school onto higher heights with the support of 33 teaching and 22 non-teaching staff till her retirement
Currently, the school is headed by Ms. Gladys Biney-Hayford who took over from Rev. Mrs. Helena Swanzy Essien in November, 2019. She is assisted by Mr. Godfrey R. Mensah and supported by twenty-five (25) teaching and 15 non-teaching staff. The school currently has a population of 230 and enrolment is on-going. Mr. Alex B. Bonney is the current Board Chairman and he is supporting the school in diverse ways.
Academic Programmes
The school offers academic programmes such as Science, General Arts, Business, Home Economics, and Visual Arts.
WASSCE Analysis
The Academic work in the school is booming and the WASSCE results over the past eight years have very encouraging and ranges between 91 – 99%.
2016 – 91 – 02%
2017 – 98.26%
2018 – 95.77%
2019 – 91.9%
2020 – 98.99%
2021 – 99.47%
2022 – 94.09%
2023 – 98.12%
In accordance with the excellent performance, the school was awarded the best private (S.H.S) Senior High School in the Municipality in 2020. Again, on the 29th November, 2024, two members of staff have beendest working teaching and the hardest awarded the hard working non-teaching staff in the S.H.S within the municipality.
Again, there has been a great performance in the area of sports over the years and currently placed first in volleyball for the Women’s Division and 2nd in Table Tennis.
The school has produced individuals who have excelled and hold high positions in society. To talk about a few, we can name;
- Mercy Ama Arthur – Budget Analyst – Asankragua Municipal Assembly
- Diana Nunoo-Mensah – 2016 Physician Assistant – Winneba Municipal
- Daisy Adjorlolo – 2016 Medical Doctor (University of Health Allied Science)
Again, the school gives access to students in the University of Education, Winneba, to undertake their programs. This helps internship programs develop their teaching skills and make them fit into the teaching profession.
Truly, the effect of the school has contributed greatly to the development of the nation, and we are grateful to God for bringing us that far.
CHALLENGES
- Enrollment
The inception of the Free S.H.S policy has caused a reduction in enrolment in the school. There is no mass enrollment in schools, and so, the school struggles have been in the public to have students in large numbers to help boost our finances. This, coupled with non-payment of school fees by parents at the stipulated time, has dwindled our finances and posed a big challenge to students, payment of salaries for the staff, and the feeding and maintenance work in the school.
- The school is saddled with a lot of infrastructural and logistical challenges, but to talk about a few.
There is an urgent need for the maintenance and completion of the main 5-unit classroom block, which is situated at the front of the school, since there is leakage. With the help of the Bishop through the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary and Philanthropist called Alhaji Labaran and Parent Association (P.A.), we have been able to fortifyllars and raise the existing pi new ones on top.
It is now left with the construction of a staircase to the top, raising of beams, and roofing to safeguard the building from future collapse.
We are therefore pleading with our guest to come to our aid to complete this project since it is the main classroom block in the school.
- Again, by the Grace of God, the Honourable member of parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markins, just constructed a 3-unit storey block for the school. We now have the structure, but the I.C.T apartment needs to be equipped with 30 desktop computers to help students in their practical lessons.
Appreciation
In appreciation, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the Presiding Prelate, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe for providing the school with 3 desktop computers and for his constant care and concern for the progress of the school.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Department of Christian Education for supporting the West Ghana Conference in re-roofing the school’s dormitory.
Again, I express my gratitude to the M.P. hon. Alexander Afenyo Markins for putting up the 3-unit storey Block for the school to help create a conducive atmosphere for learning.
Finally, on behalf of the Board of Governors, Management, the staff, and the entire student body, I warmly welcome the Board of Bishops and their entourage to our small but loving community known as The A.M.E Zion Girls Senior High School, Winneba.
Enjoy your stay and have a blissful day.
Thank you.
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