The alumni of Prempeh College have launched the Prempeh College Endowment Fund (PEF) in Accra as part of efforts to turn around the fortunes of the school for the better.
The fund seeks to raise at least one million dollars from old students to address the challenge faced by the school following the current student population.
Speaking at the launch of the fund, Chairman of the occasion and a former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani explained that the school that was built in the 1940s had a minimum of 600 students but currently, the population has grown to about 4000.
Strangely he said, the 4,000 students were still relying on the same facilities meant to accommodate only 600 students, which had become a very serious problem that must be addressed.
“It was on this premise that we decided to organise the alumni of the school and open the PEF so we can all contribute to developing infrastructure and helping the school to grow at all directions,” he stated.
He said, the school had over the years produced great people in society and all must come on board to give back to their alma mater.
Mr Mpianim charged managers of the fund to ensure transparency and work with a very high sense of integrity in order for the PEF to survive and serve its purpose.
Prof. Heneaku Kwapong, an old student of the school added that alumni across Ghana must come on board to help their institutions as many schools globally had developed because of vibrant alumni groups.
“We need to give back to the schools that made us who we are today. And Prempeh is setting the pace with the PEF, for other alumni to follow and contribute a token to help their former schools,” he stated.
He said, “We need to create a principle of collective impact that allows each person to commit to the school through a structured way that everyone would be proud of.”
He was confident that, with a small beginning and commitment from everyone, the PEF would be successful and transform the face of Prempeh College.
Prof. Kwapong set the ball rolling, by contributing 10,000 dollars to the fund on the night and also pledged to pay 100,000 into the fund within the next three years.
Other dignitaries also made similar commitments to the fund including, Mr Kofi Owusu, Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM), Kwabena Nyarko and Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa.
Headmaster of Prempeh College, Mr. Atua Gyau praised the alumni for the efforts adding that it would go a long way to change the image of the school.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
