THE EARLY YEARS

Founded in 1910, Adisadel College, popularly known as Adisco, is the second oldest secondary school in Ghana. More often than not, Santaclausians and Adisadel enthusiasts come across two conflicting dates representing the inception of Adisadel College – – January 4, 1910 and March 10, 1910. However, historical records indicate that January 4, 1910 is when Adisadel College was founded. For some reason, March 10 was agreed upon at a point in time as a convenient date to celebrate Founder’s Day. Before Adisadel College came into existence, the then Gold Coast had only one secondary school, Mfantsipim, that had been established by the Methodist Church in Cape Coast in 1876.

In 1766, Philip Quaque, the first African to be ordained a Reverend Minister, established the Government Boys’ School in Cape Coast. The school was later renamed Philip Quaque Boys’ School and was the first elementary and middle school in the then West Africa. Despite the common links with the Anglican Church, Adisadel College does not claim to have its origins rooted to Government Boys’ School to argue that it has been in existence since 1766 and for that matter, the school is 256 years old (as of 2022). Adisadel College duly recognizes and respects Mfantsipim’s position as the first secondary or Senior High school in Ghana.

In a vivid historical account by Mr. Ebow Daniel, class of 1958, and former Registrar of the University of Ghana, Legon, the beginnings of Adisco are neatly summed up in Volume 3 of the Legon Observer published in March, 2009. Mr. Daniel recounted that in earlier times, one of the delights of Cape Coast was the Sunday parade of Mfantsipim boys in white suits as they marched to Chapel Square to attend church service at the Wesleyan Church. It was mandatory for every student, irrespective of religious affiliation, to be in the marching lines not to go to their own church, but to church at Wesleyan’s. The Anglican establishment strongly objected to this turn of developments. After all, they were in Cape Coast before the arrival of missionaries of other denominations, and would not be bluffed by any Headmaster of Mfantsipim when they could have a school of their own with either the same, or better educational infrastructure to be also responsible for the training of clergy for the church. And so marked the beginning of another secondary school in Cape Coast, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Grammar (SPG) School in 1910 (thirty-four years after the establishment of Mfantsipim) with twenty-nine enrollees including the following:

Augustus James Fry	Albert Sunkersette Mends
Joseph William de Graft Johnson	Clement Henry Elliott
James Victor Mayne	John Stephen Crankson
Lewis Augustus Brydow Brown	Samuel Cobbah Sagoe
Ebenezer Benjamin Quashie Quaynor	Jacob Tawiah Stephen
George Christian Mends	Robert Dougan Mends
George Christian Heywood	Albert Henry Addo
John Thomas Green Ackon	William Thomas Flight Davidson
Joseph Jonah Mefful	Robert Ekow Wryter
James Hector Mayne	Ishmael Thomas Williams

The proud Santaclausian naturally squirms at the notion that Mfantsipim was a factor in the inception of Adisadel but as the cliché goes, facts are sacred. However, to be better than Mfantsipim must have been the unstated objective of the Anglican establishment spearheaded by the Right Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Temple Hamlyn, then Anglican bishop of Accra, who is recognized as the founder of Adisadel College. The excellent standards the pioneers established and maintained in academic achievement and extra curricula activities explain the undying rivalry between Adisadel and Mfantsipim. When it came to wider public attention in the early years, the school operated from Topp Yard, close to Government Gardens, which for a long time, housed government offices including the office of the District Commissioner. The school was later relocated out of town but before then had turned out notable products such as:

Nana Sir Tsibu Darko
Sir Edward Asafu Adjaye
Robert Kweku Atta Gardner
Kojo Botsio
Komla Agbeli Gbedema
Nene Azu Mate Kole
Clement Henry Elliott
Maxwell Awotwi
Christian Abraham Ackah

The Right Reverend Nathaniel Temple Hamlyn

Bishop Hamlyn was born in 1864 in the town of Totness in Devon County, located in south west England. After completing elementary education, he attended Totness Grammar School and pursued undergraduate studies and a Licentiate in Theology at Durham University in Durham, England. Subsequently, he was ordained as a priest of the Anglican Church in 1891. Historical accounts indicate that Bishop Hamlyn later pursued post graduate studies and earned a doctorate degree in divinity.

In 1901, Hamlyn arrived on the African continent as a missionary with the Church Mission Society (CMS) of the United Kingdom and in 1904, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) elevated Hamlyn to the position of Assistant Bishop of West Equatorial Guinea with responsibility for the Gold Coast and its hinterland. Hamlyn resided in Sekondi and oversaw the building of Saint Andrew’s Cathedral which was dedicated by him on November 30, 1905. In 1909, the diocese of Accra was created and Hamlyn became the first Anglican Bishop of Accra. With Mfantsipim, the only secondary school in the country at the time and the leadership’s insistence on Methodist church service for all students, including those affiliated with the Anglican church, Bishop Hamlyn founded the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (S PG) Grammar School in 1910. The SPG Grammar School later became Saint Nicholas’ Grammar School and finally, Adisadel College.

After successfully establishing a second high school in the Gold Coast in 1910, Bishop Hamlyn left for England in 1912 and was replaced by Bishop Mowbray Stephen O’Rorke. Bishop Hamlyn was listed as living with his family at the Vicarage in Easton, Norwich, England in 1911 till about 1914. Records indicate that Bishop Hamlyn became the Vicar at Saint Mary the Virgin at Martham, Great Yarmouth in England 1921. Besides his pastoral duties, the Right Reverend Hamlyn maintained an interest in Archaeology. In 1928, Bishop Hamlyn relocated to the Rectory at North Creak in Norfolk County where he died a year later on January 26, 1929.

Pioneering Headmasters

It is important to note that establishing a second high school in Cape Coast, and for that matter, in the then Gold Coast was Bishop Hamlyn’s utmost priority; he did not appear to be interested in directly running the school. As a result, he entrusted the SPG to appoint Headmasters to run the school with maximal efficiency. The Reverend George Barton Brown therefore became the first Headmaster of S. P. G. Grammar School in 1910. Records also indicate that the Reverend Benjamin Philip Haines co-led the school with the Reverend Brown in 1910. The leadership of the school followed a tri-partite model from 1910 to 1913. This is evidenced by the appointment of Mr. Hugh Hare, an educationist, in 1911 as Headmaster, the Reverend George Brown serving again as Headmaster in 1912, and Mr. Hare taking over the leadership for a second term in 1913. At the end of Mr. Hare’s term of office, the Reverend Robert Fisher was appointed Headmaster by the S. P. G. and led the school from 1914 to 1918. Reverend Fisher was succeeded by the Reverend William Hutton Mensah, the only Ghanaian among the pioneering Headmasters, who served from 1918 to 1924. The pioneering Headmasters can also be chronicled as follows:

Reverend George Barton Brown (1910, & 1912)
Reverend Benjamin Philip Haines (1910)
Mr. Hugh Hare (1911, & 1913)
Reverend Robert Fisher (1914-1918)
Reverend William Hutton Mensah (1918-1924)

Early Achievements

Within two years of its inception, the SPG Grammar School tested its strength at a public examination then conducted by the London School of Preceptors. All the candidates were successful, with one of them earning distinctions in six areas to set a new record in West Africa. This was definitely a great morale booster for the school and a clear signal of what should be expected of its students in future. By 1918, the school had become more than a local school for Cape Coast. Anglican parents as well as parents of other denominations from Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi also sent their sons there to be educated.

Stephen Richard Seaton Nicholas (1924-1929): Rise to prominence and the dawn of St. Nicholas’ Grammar School

Shortly after replacing Bishop Hamlyn as Bishop of Accra, Bishop O’Rorke’s keen interest in the school led him to accord due recognition to Stephen Nicholas, one of the students enrolled at SPG Grammar School, for his outstanding leadership skills in 1913. As a result, Bishop O’Rorke decided to have the church sponsor Nicholas’ education at the CMS Grammar School in Freetown, Sierra Leone (established in 1845 and the first secondary school with a European curriculum in sub-Saharan Africa) to broaden his horizons and for increased opportunities to develop his leadership skills. After successfully completing his secondary education, Nicholas enrolled at Fourah Bay College (affiliated with Durham University in England from 1876-1967) where he earned his undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, and a diploma in theology. In 1922, he returned to the Gold Coast and joined the staff at SPG Grammar School.

When Nicholas returned home, a change in control of the school had occurred. SPG Grammar School was deemed eligible to be on the list of Government Assisted Schools because of its impressive educational performance. This meant that the government had accepted to provide an annual grant not exceeding forty percent of the total salaries of the staff to the school. At about the same time, there was a growing consensus that the school should come under direct local management. As a result of these developments, Bishop John Orfeur Aglionby, who arrived in the Gold Coast in 1924 to succeed Bishop O’Rorke as the third Bishop of Accra, renamed SPG Grammar School ‘Saint Nicholas’ Grammar School.’ The same year, the Headmaster, Reverend William Hutton Mensah, left the school to become the parish priest of St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Kumasi. With the vacancy created, Bishop Aglionby appointed Mr. S. R. S. Nicholas as Headmaster.

With a growing number of students, Nicholas recognized the need for increased educational infrastructure and adequate personnel to meet the challenges posed by the increasing student population. Under his administration, the students were accommodated in three Houses: Primus, Secundus, and Tertius, and appointed House Masters to enforce discipline. Nicholas also introduced inter-House competitions in games and sports and made it mandatory for students to be in prescribed attire which consisted of a black coat worn over a white shirt with black and white tie and white trousers, black socks and a black pair of shoes for footwear, and a straw hat with a band displaying the school crest for church service on Sundays. On weekdays, prescribed attire was a pair of khaki shorts and shirt.

By the latter half of the 1920s, the increased student population made it necessary for the school administration to rent two other nearby premises for more classrooms and dormitory for students. With many students coming from out of town, the steady increase, although laudable, resulted in vast sums of money being spent on rents and repairs on the buildings. Consequently, Nicholas recognized the need for the school to acquire its own premises. He therefore made the initial contact with the Ebiradze family of Cape Coast from whom the great hill on which Adisadel College currently stands was later acquired. As Headmaster, Nicholas played his part well; he succeeded in raising the school’s level of academic achievement and standard of discipline which the leadership of every school may have envied.

The Reverend Alan John Knight (1929-1937)

In 1929, Bishop Aglionby embarked upon a reorganization of the school and in the process, invited the Reverend Alan Knight to become the Headmaster, with Nicholas as Assistant Headmaster (Second Master, back then). Despite the fact that Nicholas had successfully run the school for five years, he worked cooperatively with Reverend Knight in his position as Assistant Headmaster. It is on record that Nicholas’ loyalty to Knight was commendable. Reverend Knight earned a reputation as a great reformer. Under his administration, the wearing of a black coat and straw hat for church services came to an end. A white suit became the mandated attire for which a Kente cloth could be substituted if so desired. Graduate members of staff had to appear at every morning assembly and at classes in their academic gowns.

Wearing of suits was required for all members of staff during the Visitation Day Ceremony, which was what is now known as Speech and Prize Giving Day. Visitation Day was a great social occasion. It commenced with a Latin Oration by the School Orator. The Orator was selected from among the best of the final year Classics class! Final year students who were involved in the preparation of the oration traditionally applauded intermittently, with the rest of the student body joining the applause. This gave the impression, rather facetiously, that the whole school intently followed the learned performance and understood everything the School Orator sated!

Other changes by the Reverend Alan Knight included a properly reconstituted Board of Governors for the School and renaming of the three Houses. Primus House was renamed Hamlyn in memory of the founder of the school; Secundus became Quaque after Philip Quaque, “the Castle Chaplain and Schoolmaster,” generally believed to be the first African to have been admitted to the Holy Orders of the Anglican Church after the Reformation; and Tertius became Elliott, after Canon C. H. Elliott. Activities in sports were intensified. Rugby was introduced which tended to replace soccer. Rigid training in cricket and athletics was instituted, and inter-House competitions became the order of the day. The school’s teams for both cricket and athletics brilliantly showed up when they met competing teams, and were hard to beat.

Another novelty was the establishment of a Teacher-Training College, which was integrated with the school, with Knight as the Head. The students were housed in rented premises in town, but they participated actively in the school’s events and shared common interests with the secondary school students. In due course of time, the nucleus of a seminary was added, with Knight as the Rector, to prepare young men for ordination. One of the students was Ishmael LeMaire, who became the first Ghanaian Bishop of Accra.

Reverend Knight had a truly dedicated teaching staff whose focus was on maintaining excellent standards at St. Nicholas’ Grammar School. Ghanaian members of staff included D. Jackson-Davies, T. J. O. Gyebi, E. F. Andrews-Ayeh, A. W. E. Appiah (later an Anglican priest), S. G. Amissah, and C. A. Ackah (later, Dr. C. A. Ackah, first Principal (Vice Chancellor) of the University College of Cape Coast). Others were H. Tekyi-Mensah (later an Anglican Archdeacon), A. R. Otoo, E. B. O. Azu Mate, A. O. A. Hammond, K. O. Hagan, J. R. Amponsah, K.M.A. C. Ababio, T. M. Kodwo Mercer, J. Ade Sawyerr, and J. M. Awotwi, an Old Boy who was on the staff of the school from 1930 to 1970.

During the era of Knight, the school ceased to worship at Christ Church, because a large building at Topp Yard was converted into a Chapel. Singing in Chapel took a new turn as The English Hymnal replaced the use of Hymns Ancient and Modern. A ceremony which Knight instituted was also first performed in this Chapel. This was the ‘Blessing of the final year students and the Induction of the Head Prefect.’

Knight was a great advocate of the Classics, and he did his best to maintain the reputation of classical education that had been well established by his predecessor. This was evidenced by the staging of Greek plays by the school. In particular, Sophocles’ Antigone was flawlessly staged publicly in 1934-35, with repeated performances in Cape Coast, Accra, and Sekondi. Aeschylus’ Agamemnon was also staged in 1936. The choruses were rendered in the original Greek, with the narrative in English. Nicholas, as the Senior Classics Master, was the moving spirit behind the classical plays. As producer, he coached the actors with remarkable efficiency.

It was also during the era of Knight that Santa Claus, the school magazine was first published. Another publication was the Owl, a weekly newsletter that was entirely managed and produced by a group of students in upper classes. The owl became an institution in itself. Through its columns of editorial comment, news items, and satires, the Owl delved into every conceivable aspect of life on campus. It was a familiar sight as teachers and students alike craned their necks on Monday mornings to scan int pages which were displayed in a special glass case in front of the Assembly Hall. Without an iota of doubt, Knight’s most significant achievement was his success in moving the school from Topp yard to the site of Adisadel Hill, and it will be appropriate to pause and pay tribute to members of staff who worked tirelessly at the very early stage to translate their vision into reality. They freely gave of their time and talent to encourage the students to undertake the first phase of the building programme by their own labour. This included the present Hamlyn House, the Acropolis, and the Sanatorium (Sick Bay).

Mr. John Buckman, a land surveyor and architect, deserves special commendation. It was well known that he travelled frequently from Accra to Cape Coast in 1932-33 to supervise ongoing construction on the Hill free of charge. Mr. I. R. Fynn, an architect in Cape Coast, also provided generous assistance to projects on the Hill.

The determined effort of the students which came to be known as the ‘Adisadel Spirit’ attracted financial support from within and outside the country. The government provided a substantial grant to the school which enabled construction work to be undertaken in accordance with standard building codes. As a result, the then Governor of Gold Coast, Sir Arnold Hudson, arrived in Cape Coast in December 1936 to formally open the new buildings and name the school Adisadel College. As would be expected, this historic event was witnessed by a large number of people and local chiefs.

One of Knight’s greatest gifts was his ability to discover hidden talents in students. It was during his reign that the School Ode was composed, and he inspired Jack Wilmot, a student of the school, to write the music. In 1937, Reverend Alan Knight went on furlough but did not return to Adisadel. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, who had evidently been struck by Knight’s dynamism as he campaigned for funds in Britain to support Adisadel, appointed him Bishop of Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). Knight later became the Anglican Archbishop of the West Indies.

The Reverend Robin Decimus Hudson (1937-1940)

Following the departure of Reverend Knight, the Reverend Robin Hudson, Chaplain of Eton College in Windsor, England was appointed to succeed him. The news of Reverend Hudson’s appointment was hailed by many for a variety of reasons. Coming from one of England’s old and prestigious public schools, it was assumed that he would lead Adisadel in a manner that would be consistent with Eton’s tradition of excellence. Reverend Hudson was a man of magnificent and imposing appearance who combined sound scholarship with a great sense of humour. He was a rugby enthusiast, great swimmer, and lover of outdoor games.

It was during Reverend Hudson’s term of office that the teaching of science was introduced in Adisadel. A small room by Hamlyn House was converted for use as a laboratory and it greatly encouraged students who had decided to pursue advanced courses for which a knowledge of science was necessary. Unfortunately, whatever plans Hudson had for improving the quality and content of the science curriculum could not be carried out because he suddenly had to leave Adisadel in 1940 to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. However, Hudson made an impact on the school and deservedly won the respect of everyone who worked with him.

Stephen Richard Seaton Nicholas (1941-1943)

Following the unexpected departure of the Reverend Hudson, Mr. Stephen Nicholas, who was then the Assistant Headmaster, led the school from 1941-1943 before he left for Nigeria to take up an appointment with the Church Missionary Society CMS). While working for CMS, Nicholas was ordained a Minister of the Anglican Church.

Mr. A. N. Agbettor (1943-1946)

After Nicholas left for Nigeria, Mr. A. N. Agbettor, then a senior teacher at Mfantsipim, was selected by the Board of Governors to lead Adisadel as an interim Headmaster. Agbettor is described as a very sincere person with a reputation as a good Latin teacher. He came to Adisadel at a rather unsettling time in the history of the school. For some reason, Adisadel was one of the few schools ordered by the Governor of Gold Coast to vacate for use by the Military during the Second World War. The school therefore had to move to Cape Coast and be housed in widely scattered premises. Agbettor had to cope with the formidable task of managing the school in the midst of all the uncertainties. Without doubt, he did his best to avoid a disintegration of Adisadel because of the disabling conditions that had resulted from the war. Agbettor tried to do his best to keep the school together. However, the students, with their pre-Second World War mindset of Adisadel on the Hill, did not think he was doing a good job running the school and blamed him for not doing enough to retain members of staff and also, to secure needed supplies for the school. In all fairness, the problems were not entirely Agbettor’s doing. This was the era of the Second World War and its immediate years, and resources in the Gold Coast, as in every country, were in short supply. In the midst of all the confusion, Agbettor left the school in 1947.

The Reverend W. G. Harward (1947-1952)

The Reverend Harward originally arrived in the Gold Coast to work as a parish priest. However, in 1947, the Board of Governors of the school appointed him as Headmaster after Mr. Agbettor left Adisadel. Harward assumed office at a time when there were complaints of inadequate resources and he worked hard to resolve the problems he had inherited. He did not only make sure the school’s bookstore had stocks of books and stationery required by the school but also, wasted no time in recruiting new teachers and making conditions of service more attractive. In solving the problems confronting the school, Reverend Harward was greatly assisted by the School Chaplain, the Reverend John Howe.

Harward had a passion for sports and considered it an important aspect of the development of students. It is significant to note that the long concrete steps leading from the upper school to the sports fields were constructed during his term of office. Reverend Harward also sent two past students, R. T. Orleans-Pobee and S. A. Nelson, who had distinguished records in sports, to Jordan Hill, Glasgow to pursue a diploma in Sports. That was a major move because on their return, the two past students took the school to great heights and Adisadel College became a wonder on the sports field as well. Under Harward, sporting activities of Adisadel went beyond the borders of Ghana. The school soccer team travelled to Nigeria to play against Nigerian school teams and the morale of the school soared.

Undoubtedly, Harward vigorously embarked on an ambitious plan of infrastructural development for the school. Canterbury and Knight Houses were built under his watch to absorb the growing student population. To promote the study of science, Harward initially built a small laboratory for science behind Hamlyn House and later, new science laboratories between Canterbury and Knight Houses, and ensured the availability of the necessary facilities for the study of science.

Unfortunately, he left the school in 1953 under a cloud and could not execute all his plans. When he left, the Assistant Headmaster, C. A. Coleman Porter, led the school until a Headmaster was appointed in 1954. Coleman Porter is best remembered for building by his own specifications and under his own supervision, the retaining wall on the eastern slope of the Hill on which the Chapel stands. Whatever the facts of his exit, Adisadel under the Reverend Harward’s administration witnessed significant progress.

Mr. Arthur Dee (1954-1955)

Mr. Arthur Dee, then a Housemaster at Marlborough College in Marlborough, Wiltshire County in England, arrived in Adisadel in 1954 to serve as Headmaster. Dee, a brilliant and hardworking teacher, played his role with great enthusiasm and was admired by both staff and students. Sadly, in the middle of 1955, he returned to England for medical reasons and passed away as a result of complications that developed after undergoing surgery. With this unexpected development, the Board of Governors empowered the Assistant Headmaster, Mr. Albert Hammond, to lead the school until a new Headmaster was appointed in 1956.

Mr. L. W. Fry (1956-1958)

Following the demise of Mr. Dee, L.W. Fry, a science teacher and Assistant Headmaster at Achimota School, was appointed as Headmaster by the Board of Governors in 1956. It was during his administration that students changed from khaki to blue shirts as school uniform. For some reason, Fry only served for three years and was succeeded by Mr. T. J. Drury who was also recruited from Achimota School in 1959.

J. Drury (1959-1963)

Mr. T. J. Drury gave Adisadel a new look through an extensive building programme; he spearheaded the building of Houses and other buildings at the base of the Hill and the young students, with their characteristic sense of humour and timing, named the new development ‘Katanga,’ because the buildings appeared to be separated from those on top of the Hill, and had been constructed at the time of the Congo crisis when the province of Katanga was seeking separation from the rest of the Congo. Barely a year after Drury became Headmaster, Adisadel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and as Headmaster, he prioritized ensuring that the Golden Jubilee be tangibly marked by physical structures that would befit the status of a rapidly expanding school. In line with the Santaclausian spirit of the 1930s which fueled the construction of structures on the Hill, Drury energized the students to embrace the idea of building a much-needed sports pavilion by their own labour. Drury also built a gymnasium which for decades, made Adisadel College the only school in the country that had a gymnasium. The gymnasium was named after him in 1973.

As a classicist, Drury was very much aware of the relevance of classics in Adisadel. Nevertheless, he recognized the need to expand the school’s curriculum to meet contemporary needs. He therefore abolished the study of Greek to place emphasis on the sciences. A new science block was therefore built on Drury’s watch and commissioned by Arthur Ramsey, Archbishop of York who was moving to Canterbury as the new head of the Anglican Church when he visited Ghana in 1961. Drury was instrumental in establishing a cadet corps which became exceedingly popular with the students. Under Drury, Adisadel became an entirely boarding establishment.

Drury’s most significant contribution was perhaps the quality of those he recruited to be on his teaching staff; they were highly dedicated teachers who gave of their best. Drury set a good example that inspired his staff to such an extent that they rallied round him, supported him, and trusted him. Such a fruitful cooperation between Headmaster and staff yielded so much positive outcomes in Adisadel under Drury, and deserves to be reckoned as a tribute to his leadership.

When Drury decided to retire from Adisadel after nearly five years as Headmaster, it was met with great sadness, anxiety, and disappointment. However, it was significant that in an era of nationalism, nobody tried to edge him out and that he decided to leave out of his own volition for the sake of his growing children and also, because of a possible teaching position in Lancashire, England.

T J Drury’s love affair with Adisadel continued even after he had left the school and, indeed, was an important founding member of AOBA-UK in 1985. He passed away in 1993 and Old Boys in the UK got the mourning congregation spontaneously applauding as one when they attended and gave a hearty rendition of the School Ode at his funeral in the picturesque town of Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England

Mr. R. T. Orleans-Pobee (1963-1974)

Prior to Drury declaring his intent to resign, he was quietly drawing the attention of the ‘power brokers’ of the school to his Senior Housemaster, Mr. R. T. Orleans-Pobee as a possible successor. Bishop Roseveare, then Chairman of the Board of Governors, talked Mr. R. T. Orleans-Pobee into applying for the position of Headmaster. However, Orleans-Pobee had set his sights elsewhere. Orleans-Pobee had been teaching at Adisadel since 1950 and had decided it was time to look elsewhere for greener pastures. At the time, there was a vacancy at the Faculty of Education, University of Cape Coast and it appeared the advertisement had either been targeted to make Orleans-Pobee the ideal candidate or the most qualified applicant. Teaching at the University was considered by many as more prestigious and more financially rewarding than teaching at even a prestigious secondary school as Adisadel, and Orleans-Pobee was ready to take his chances.

Bishop Roseveare appealed to Nana Sir Tsibu Darko, an old Santaclausian who had become one of the few powerful chiefs with standing and clout with the colonial administration and had also acquired some standing with the government. Roseveare further sought the help of Lawyer James Mercer, old Santaclausian and a fierce advocate of Adisadel who had not only served on the Board of Governors but had also been a big supporter of the school. Under the prevailing conditions, Orleans-Pobee found himself fighting against Titans who would not take no from him as an answer. In the end, Orleans-Pobee found the pressure of the Bishop, the ‘power brokers,’ and the quiet persuasion of Mr. T. J. Drury too much to resist, and became Headmaster after Drury left in 1963.

In response to a question about his future plans for the school on assumption of office, Orleans-Pobee’s answer was brief and succinct: “I want three-sided development for everybody: an intelligent mind in a healthy body, both guided by good character.” That may well be considered the ideology and manifesto of Orleans-Pobee, the Headmaster of the school adjudged by many as the Model School. He was fond of using Latin expressions from time to time and one of his favourite expressions was “mens sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind in a sound body), and he frequently mentioned that reading, mathematics, science, and art are to the mind as physical activities are to the body, and that to be at your optimum, you need to be in good physical shape. With this philosophy, he encouraged every student to show interest in at least one sporting activity. There can be no exaggeration of Orleans-Pobee’s commitment to Sports in Adisadel. His presence on the field during training sessions was a powerful source of motivation for school athletes and this significantly contributed to maintaining Adisadel’s long standing tradition of excellence in sports.

Armed with a belief that recreational activities and hobbies give fun, sharpen minds, create a cooperative spirit and keep students out of mischief, Orleans-Pobee initiated and encouraged diverse extra-curricular activities from Jazz Band to School Choir and School Orchestra, and from Drama to Literary and Debating Societies. The School Jazz Band became so popular with its signature tune “And When the Saints go Marching in” that the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation invited the Band to perform in its studio in Accra. The Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana also invited the Adisco Jazz Band to perform at Legon. To crown it all, the Band was invited to perform at the Black Star Square (Independence Square) in Accra during the Independence Anniversary Celebrations of March 6, 1965.

In the domain of Academic Achievement, Orleans-Pobee actively recruited highly qualified teachers, especially old students to teach at the school. He fostered a fine cooperative spirit among staff members to create a supportive work environment.

Orleans-Pobee lived by example and was an immensely popular Headmaster. He abhorred what he termed “wretched dressing.” As a result, he was always sharply dressed. His belief in discipline was not limited to merely putting unruly students back on track; he made sure facilities on campus were top notch and not below expectation. Here are two examples that speak volumes to his commitment to excellence in Adisadel. Shortly after his arrival from an educational visit to France in 1971, he initiated the construction of Ebiradze House and ensured that it was completed on time to ease overcrowding in the other Houses. Likewise, he built a new classroom block and started renovating the Dining Hall to accommodate the increasing number of students.

Orleans-Pobee’s efforts yielded not only excellent academic performance by students but also, high standards in sports which made teams representing Adisadel in any sporting event very hard to beat. Much to the disappointment of staff and students, Orleans-Pobee left Adisadel in the middle of the 1973-74 school year to become the country’s Director of Sports. To paraphrase Professor John Pobee in “Adisadel on the Hill, the Story,” the ever-exciting story of Headmaster Orleans-Pobee may lead one to conclude that the secret of his immense success was his ability to be a team player and his commitment to maintaining a conducive learning environment for students and a welcoming environment for staff. During the centenary celebration in 2010, Mr. Orleans-Pobee was honoured as the Santaclausian of the Century. This came as no surprise to any Santaclausian.

The headmastership temporarily went to the then assistant headmaster, C K Owusu, an old student of Achimota school and a renowned History teacher. A substantive Headmaster in the person of E A Jonah was appointed to succeed Orleans-Pobee at the start of the 1974-75 school year.

Mr. E. A. Jonah (1974-1980)

At the beginning of the 1974-75 school year, Mr. Jonah was appointed Headmaster by the Board of Governors to succeed Mr. Orleans-Pobee. Jonah’s term of office, especially during the initial months, drew increased attention to the enormity of his predecessor’s shoes which he had to fill. In a very welcome development, Mr. Jonah was greatly assisted by the ever-energetic Assistant Headmaster, Mr. Daniel Atakora to run the school to try and maintain the standards that had been set by Mr. R. T. Orleans-Pobee. This proved to be a daunting task for the Jonah administration. In 1980, Jonah left office and was succeeded by Mr. R. K. Ayitey.

Mr. R. K. Ayitey (1980-1990)

Mr. R. K. Ayitey assumed office at the beginning of the 1980-81 school year and immediately focused on accomplishing three major tasks in the school: maintaining discipline, raising academic standards, and boosting morale of teaching and non-teaching staff. Mr. Ayitey worked in close collaboration with Housemasters, Prefects, and members of the School Council to ensure that students adhered to school rules as expected. Likewise, he established and maintained an excellent rapport with staff, listened to their concerns, and promptly offered solutions. Mr. Ayitey also made a conscious effort to recruit and retain staff; he visited the university campuses and encouraged Santaclausians in their final year to consider coming over to Adisadel to teach. Further, he personally extended an invitation to Santaclausians teaching in other schools to transfer to their alma mater to contribute to his goal of raising academic standards in Adisadel and played an active role in encouraging the formation of Adisadel Old Boys’ Associations outside Ghana.

As a result of Ayitey’s strong leadership skills, Adisadel regained the spotlight with excellent performance in the domain of academic achievement to the point of securing a ranking among the top performing high schools in Africa. When Adisadel celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1985, Ayitey’s organizational skills won the admiration of Santaclausians and non-Santaclausians alike. The occasion was graced by the presence of Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, reigning Asantehene at the time and it was a memorable event that probably served as a precursor to the 2010 centenary celebrations.

Given his inclusive approach to governance, Ayitey recognized the importance of the support the school enjoyed from Adisadel Village and the Estates. As a result, he extended an invitation to the leader of the Zongo community (Zongohen) of Adisadel Village to participate in the festivities marking the Diamond Jubilee. On arriving on the campus with his entourage, the spontaneous eruption of welcoming cheers from staff and students underscored Ayitey’s thoughtfulness and the emphasis he placed on the importance and relevance of positive relationships in achieving desirable outcomes as a leader. By the time Ayitey retired, he had rekindled the Adisadel spirit, and was succeeded by Mr. J. F. K. Appiah-Cobbold.

Mr. J. F. K. Appiah-Cobbold (1991-1995)

Much to his credit, Mr. Appiah-Cobbold did his best to consolidate the gains of Mr. Ayitey when he became Headmaster at the beginning of the 1990-1991 school year. Four years into his administration, the government of the day introduced major changes to the educational system which required phasing out the Ordinary and Advanced Levels in favour of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) systems. As a result, 1994 marked the end of the Ordinary Levels era. Two years later (1996), the Advanced Levels era also came to an end. The new system presented significant challenges as it required additional staff as well as additional educational infrastructure (houses, classrooms, laboratories, etc.) to cater for the increased student population.

Recognizing the central role of teaching staff in ensuring the success of the new educational system, Mr. Appiah-Cobbold first and foremost, focused on recruitment and retention of staff. He followed his predecessor’s lead to sustain a conducive work environment for staff as well as a conducive learning environment for students in order to maintain Adisadel’s ranking as a first-rate secondary school in Africa. When Appiah-Cobbold retired in 1995, he was succeeded by Mr. J. E. C. Kitson.

Mr. J. E. C. Kitson (1995-2004)

Like his non-European predecessors, Mr. Kitson attended Adisadel College. After Adisadel, he trained as a Specialist in Science and returned to the campus to teach physics. He also served as Canterbury Housemaster and left the school after some years to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). After graduating from KNUST, Mr. Kitson pursued a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), returned to teach at Adisadel, and later served as Senior Housemaster. When he became Headmaster in 1995, he built on his immediate predecessor’s achievements to improve on students’ educational performance and worked hard to restore Adisadel’s dominance in sports. Sadly, Mr. Kitson passed away in 2004 and was succeeded by Mr. H. K. K. Graham.

Reverend Dr. H. K. K. Graham (2005-2014)

Prior to becoming Headmaster, Reverend Graham had experienced Adisadel as a student, member of staff, Housemaster, and Senior Housemaster. Mr. Kitson was not only his immediate predecessor but also, his physics teacher during his student days. On assuming office, Graham focused intensely on raising academic standards and maintaining an appreciable level of discipline on campus. In order to achieve his goals, Graham identified key areas that needed attention and concluded that a conscious effort to motivate both teaching and non-teaching staff for better outcomes could have positive effects which would include improved attitudes to work and increased levels of interest in addressing students’ academic needs. Graham therefore instituted several awards to recognize staff and students at Speech and Prize Giving Days and solicited the help of Old Boys in and out of Ghana to sponsor those awards.

He established direct contacts with many Old Boys and succeed in winning them over to help with his goal of motivating staff and students to perform at optimal levels. Graham’s efforts paid off as the numerous awards instituted served as a morale booster for staff which in turn, greatly motivated students to work harder. The results of Graham’s efforts were an impressive academic performance by students that were evidenced by the school’s WASSCE examination results which made Adisadel the school to beat.

Despite the enviable academic standards recorded, the Graham administration was not without its challenges. For one thing, the existing facilities were grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the growing student population. Further, the Ghana Education Service failed to provide additional educational infrastructure to match the increased number of students following the implementation of the new educational system. As a result, the campus became overpopulated. In complying with the Ghana Education Service’s mandated number of students to be admitted, what used to be House Common Rooms, Trunk and Chopbox Rooms, and some classrooms were converted to sleeping quarters to accommodate students. Although the Ghana Education Service initiated the construction of two dormitory blocks in 1994 to absorb the growing student population, the structures remain uncompleted as of 2022. In 1997, Sir Sam Jonah single handedly constructed a new dormitory block in honour of his father to house about 120 students. Unfortunately, the House was rather used to increase student in-take. In the midst of all this, Graham continued to work hard to maintain high academic standards in Adisadel.

January 4, 2010 ushered in a hundred years of Adisadel College with the Reverend Dr. Graham as Headmaster. For practical reasons, the planning committee scheduled the celebrations for the week of July 12-18, 2010. It is on record that Archbishop Knight, Headmaster from 1929-1937, once stated that on the day Adisadel will turn a hundred, “Santaclausians shall come from near and far to rejoice together in our proud inheritance.” Archbishop Knight’s prediction was exactly what happened. The campus was beautifully decked in the traditional black and white colours and it is on record that over 3,000 Old Boys converged on the campus to be part of the great historical event. It must be noted that Mfantsipim, our long-standing rivals and the only secondary school in Ghana that had celebrated a centenary before Adisadel, assisted Adisadel to have a successful celebration. Mfantsipim put its bus at the disposal of Adisadel to assist in transporting visitors to the Hill since all vehicles were directed to park close to the Mercer Gate to avoid a parking crisis on the Hill.

Professor Atta-Mills, sitting president at the time was in attendance as the Special Guest of Honour. A long list of dignitaries, including Osabarima Kwesi Atta (Omanhen of the Oguaa traditional area), Mr. Begyina Sekyi Hughes (then the immediate past speaker of parliament), and Mr. Alan Kyeremateng (aspiring presidential candidate at the time) were in attendance. In his keynote address, the Guest Speaker, Sir Sam Jonah, drew awareness to the need for computer literacy for all students and universal access to the internet to be competitive in the 21st century. Sir Jonah also drew attention to the inadequate educational infrastructure at the school and called on Old Boys and the government to work together to reverse the trend. Four years after the centenary, Reverend Dr. Graham retired and was succeeded by Mr. William Kusi-Yeboah.

Mr. William Kusi-Yeboah (2014-2018)

When the Reverend Graham retired in January 2014, a caretaker administration led the school until August 1, 2014 when the Board of Governors appointed Mr. Kusi-Yeboah as Headmaster.

Faced with a congested campus and an unsettling realization that Jubilee House could be sinking, Kusi-Yeboah, with support from the Management, appealed for funds from Old Boys and engaged the services of structural engineers to examine the structure to determine if anything could be done to save Jubilee House. After the investigations were over, the engineers concluded that the problem was with balustrades disengaging from the main structure. This was resolved with urgency and was followed by a complete renovation of Jubilee House.

Kusi-Yeboah also set his eyes on moving Adisadel on to greater heights in terms of educational performance, discipline, and sports. During the 2014-2015 school year which marked his first year in office, 12 students earned A’s in all eight subjects at the WASSCE examinations. That same school year, Adisadel College emerged runners-up at the National Science and Math Quiz (NSMQ) competition. The students’ impressive performance made Kusi-Yeboah believe that the championship was within reach. As a result, he initiated an early preparation schedule for the next team and maintained a visible presence during training sessions to keep staff and students highly motivated. Consistent with his expectations and to the delight of Santaclausians irrespective of geographical location, Adisadel College won the NSMQ during the 2015-2016 school year. Adisadel continued to remain a force to be reckoned with in science and mathematics, as students representing the school for the NSMQ for the 2016-17 and 2017-2018 school years emerged as runners-up. Adisco also maintained dominance in all sporting events, including track and field, soccer, hockey, volley ball, and ping pong in the Central Region.

Mr. Kusi-Yeboah served as Headmaster with great devotion and dedication to duty. To keep students and staff motivated, he often appeared at various events in unique custom-made jackets of traditional Santaclausian colours. While this made him very popular with Santaclausians and non-Santaclausians alike, he also became a target for jokes and uncomplimentary remarks on social media. However, Kusi-Yeboah remained unperturbed, as he focused on his goal of ensuring a better Adisadel for students and staff.

The congested campus which had resulted in House Common Rooms, Trunk and Chopbox Rooms, and some classrooms being used as dormitories did not sit well with Kusi-Yeboah. He bluntly expressed his dissatisfaction and discomfort about the situation and embarked on a policy of decongesting the school by beginning to limit student intake to what the existing facilities could support. Notwithstanding the congestion and inadequate educational structure to match the number of students on campus, the Ghana Education Service put pressure on Mr. Kusi-Yeboah to increase student intake. This obviously made a bad situation worse. As laudable and as remarkable as his resolve to decongest the campus was, his bluntness incurred the displeasure of some individuals at the Ghana Education Service. Unfortunately, in 2018, Mr. Kusi-Yeboah was forced out of office by the then Minister of Education for reasons that had nothing to do with moral flaws or his ability to serve as Headmaster. Kusi-Yeboah was initially succeeded by Mr. Francis Agbedanu. However, Agbedanu served for about a year and was replaced by Mr. Samuel Agudogo in 2021.

Mr. Samuel Agudogo (2021-

Prior to his appointment as Headmaster at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, Mr. Agudogo, a seasoned science and mathematics teacher, was the Assistant Headmaster of University Practice Secondary School in Cape Coast. Without any exaggeration, Mr. Agudogo has inherited the problem of an overpopulated campus and its attendant problems, and it is hoped that the Ghana Education Service, Old Boys, and other stakeholders will support him to solve the problem.

May the School live up to its motto, and still continue to be- “vel primus vel cum primis!”

Floreat Adisadel !!!