Stories and facts
Achimota School commonly known as Motown, is a co-educational public boarding high school situated in Achimota, Accra, in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Founded in 1924 by Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, and Rev. Alec Garden Fraser, the school was officially opened in 1927 by Sir Frederick Guggisberg, then the Governor of the British Gold Coast colony.
Achimota School, originally named the Prince of Wales College and School at Achimota and later Achimota College, was the first mixed-gender institution in the Gold Coast, modeled on the British public school system.
Over the decades, Achimota School has educated numerous prominent Ghanaian leaders, including former Presidents Kwame Nkrumah, Edward Akufo-Addo, Jerry John Rawlings, and John Evans Atta Mills. The school also boasts notable alumni like Kofi Abrefa Busia, a former Ghanaian head of government, and Zimbabwe's second president Robert Mugabe. Alumni are affectionately known as "Akora."
The school's motto, "Ut Omnes Unum Sint," translates to "That they all may be one." This reflects the founders' vision of an integrated and harmonious community, symbolized by the piano-key design of the school's crest, which signifies unity between black and white, male and female.
Achimota School was established to bridge the educational gap in the Gold Coast following World War I. Governor Guggisberg, inspired by Dr. James Aggrey and the recommendations of the Phelps-Stokes Commission on education, sought to create an institution that offered comprehensive education, including secondary, teacher training, and technical education. With the support of local chiefs and statesmen, Achimota College was developed to meet these goals, with the first principal being Rev. Alexander G. Fraser and the first vice-principal being Dr. James Aggrey, a strong advocate for women's education.
The school was formally opened on January 28, 1927, by Governor Guggisberg, with the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, as the guest of honor. Achimota School quickly became a prestigious institution, contributing significantly to the intellectual and leadership landscape of Africa. The school has played a key role in the establishment of the University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Achimota School's campus spans over 525 hectares within the Achimota Forest Reserve, featuring colonial architecture and landscaped grounds. The campus includes various facilities such as libraries, chapels, dining halls, sports fields, a swimming pool, and an arboretum. It also hosts the Achimota Golf Club and a 45-bed hospital.
The school's curriculum emphasizes both academic excellence and practical skills, with departments dedicated to science, mathematics, arts, music, and home science. Students are required to take a diverse range of subjects, leading to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Achimota School upholds its tradition of excellence, fostering a holistic education that blends intellectual, practical, and moral development.
