Stories and facts
Prempeh College, a distinguished public secondary school for boys, is located in Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti Region in Ghana. The school was founded in 1949 through a collaboration between the Asanteman traditional authority, the British Colonial Government, the Methodist Church Ghana, and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. Named after Sir Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II, the King of Ashanti who generously donated the land, the school was modeled after Eton College in England, aiming to blend tradition with modern educational practices.
In terms of academic achievements, Prempeh College has consistently demonstrated excellence. The school topped matriculation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in both 2004 and 2012, with 441 and 296 students admitted respectively. Additionally, Prempeh College has won the National Robotics Championships a record five times between 2013 and 2021. In 2016, the school won the prestigious Toyota Innovation Award at the International Robofest World Championships held in Michigan, USA.
The inception of Prempeh College dates back to the early 1940s when the British Colonial Government, seeking to establish a school in the middle belt of Ghana, invited the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches to help. Despite delays caused by World War II, the school was designed in 1948 by British modernist architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew. The campus, incorporating modernist elements, was described in Lain Jackson and Jessica Holland's book, "The Architecture of Edwin Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew: Twentieth Century Pioneer Modernism and the Tropics."
The school was officially opened on February 5, 1949. During the opening ceremony, Major C. O. Butler, the chief commissioner of Ashanti, emphasized the importance of training individuals for technical and administrative roles critical for the development of Ashanti and the Gold Coast. Prempeh II expressed his hope that the students would excel both intellectually and morally.
Prempeh College students wear a green shirt with the college crest for daily classes and a green jacket with embroidery of the college crest for ceremonial occasions. The traditional college blazer, initially introduced in 1949, was discontinued in the 1980s but revived in 2003 for events like speech days and graduations.
The school magazine, "The Stool," is an annual publication that documents the year's events and achievements. Managed by a patron, an editorial board, and the Student Representative Council (SRC), the magazine includes reports, interviews with alumni, and student messages, providing a comprehensive overview of life at Prempeh College.
Prempeh College has an impressive track record in national competitions. It was the first school to win the National Science and Maths Quiz in 1994 and 1996, and later in 2015, 2017, and 2021, making it one of the most successful institutions in the quiz's history. The school also claimed the Ghana National Debate Championship titles in 1997 and 2004. In 2016, Prempeh College made history as the first secondary school in Ghana and Africa to win the World Robofest, triumphing over competitors from industrialized nations like China and Japan. The college's robotics team continues to excel, securing numerous regional and national titles, and representing Ghana at international competitions.
Prempeh College boasts a distinguished list of alumni who have excelled in various fields, including John Kufuor, former President of Ghana; Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Finance Minister; Kwesi Ahwoi, former Minister for the Interior; Joseph Amoah, national record-holding sprinter; Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia South and Minister for Energy; Edward Boateng, Ghana Ambassador to China; Maxwell Kofi Jumah, former Mayor of Kumasi; and Samuel Yaw Adusei, former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister.
Prempeh College continues to be a beacon of excellence, shaping the minds and futures of young Ghanaians, and contributing significantly to the nation's development.
