The Sekondi College (SEKCO) in the Western Region has climaxed its 70th anniversary celebrations on the school compound with a well-attended durbar.
At the event, last Saturday, there was a clarion call on the students and teachers to join the crusade in addressing climate change, plastic waste menace and environmental pollution.
The celebrations, which was launched in July this year in Accra by Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, an alumnus of the school, had the theme, “70 Years of Holistic Education: The Story of Sekondi College”.
The event was attended by the Sekondi College Old Students Association (SEKCOSA), and academia from sister schools and the education directorate.
Dr George Manful, an old boy and the guest speaker, called for concerted efforts in tackling issues of global warming, climate change, plastic waste, and environmental pollution.
Dr Manful, a retiree of the United Nations Office in Nairobi and an expert in Climate Change and Environmental Advocacy, advised the school authorities to pilot waste management measures and promised to assist them with his rich experience.
He said by so doing, SEKCO could become the best environmental school and most sequester of carbon dioxide in the country.
He bemoaned the fact that Ghana had developed a waste management policy but had not been able to implemented it for so long, adding that, the nation could generate GHc20 billion annually from plastic waste products and create more jobs for the youth.
He said the quantum of waste released into water bodies endangered the lives of marine lives and species and warned that “if the practice persists, there will be more plastics in the sea than fishes by the year 2050.
The headmistress of the school, Mrs Guddy Avena Ampomah Kermah, said with discipline as its hallmark and dedicated staff, the academic performance of the school continued to be a barometer of excellence with two of its students who excelled in the Science and Maths competition, sponsored to South Africa.
She said most of the alumni from the school were in the commanding heights of industry, academia, and other enviable positions.
Mrs Kermah said the school had rolled out an agricultural revolution going beyond theoretical to practical by producing food to supplement feeding in the dining hall.
The headmistress commended the Catholic Church for donating computers to strengthen the ICT department and appealed to organisations and individuals to come to the aid of the school.
The Board Chairperson of SEKCO and a former Western Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Rebecca Efiba Dadzie, paid glowing tribute to the first headmaster of the school, Mr J.W.Acquah, past and present teachers for their immense contribution to the school.
The Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs. Nelly S. Coleman, appealed to girls in the school to prepare and take up the mantle of leadership in future.
She said the school had chalked significant milestones, which should be showcased to the outside world.
The President of SEKCOSA, Madam Adwoa Darko, thanked the old students association for the fund raising activities to assist the school during the 70th anniversary launch in Accra.
FROM TIMES REPORTER, SEKONDI
