2014/2015 Annual Speech, Prize Giving and Upper Sixth Form Graduation Day Guest Speaker: Professor Wole Soyinka Winner, 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2015 Time: 14:00 GMT Venue: National Theatre, Accra, Ghana Title Sponsor Contents Order of Programme 04 18 Prize Winners Guest of Honour 05 22 The List of Class of 2015 Board of Directors and Management Team 06 24 Brief History Principal’s Address 07 26 Guiding Statements Class of 2015 10 28 Sponsors Acknowledgement Prefects 2014/2015 16 31 School Song & Ghana National Anthem Students’ Representative Council 2014/2015 17 Ghana International School 3 Order of Programme 1. Arrival of Students, Parents and Guests 11. Presentation of Prizes and Awards for Upper Secondary by Mr. Frank Amponsah-Mensah 2. Procession by Board of Directors, Guest of Honour and Management Team led by Noyan Institute of the Arts 12. Graduation Ceremony, Presentation of Certificates by Guest of Honour assisted by Principal 3. Sixth Form Procession led by School Orchestra 13. Valedictory Address by Neta Parsram and Papa Kofi 4. The Ghana National Anthem Genfi 5. Welcome and Acknowledgement of Sponsors by MC 14. Video presentation by Lower 6 Form Students Mr. Selase Dzakamani 15. Musical Performance by Students 6. Board Chairman’s Opening Address by Mr. Kwame Pianim 16. Ghana International School Song by Class of 2015 7. Principal’s Address by Dr. Mary Ashun 17. Vote of Thanks by Upper Secondary Vice Principal, Mr. Frank Amponsah-Mensah 8. Introduction of Guest of Honour by MD, Access Bank (GH) Mr. Dolapo Ogundimu. 18. Recession of Board of Directors, Guest of Honour and Management Team led by Noyan Institute of 9. Guest of Honour’s Speech by Professor Wole Soyinka the Arts 10. Presentation of Prizes and Awards for Lower Secondary 19. Refreshments for Board of Directors, Special by Ms. Ida Abbeyquaye Guests, Management, Graduates and members of their families on the 2nd Floor. As a courtesy to the graduates and families attending this event, we ask that photographers do not distract the program; kindly remain in area assigned to camera crew 4 Ghana International School GUEST OF HONOUR PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA Later as a young man, he enrolled at the Poems, Samarkand’ and ‘Other Markets I University College of Ibadan from 1952- Have Known’. 54 and then at the University of Leeds Professor Soyinka has received many other studying English Literature before returning awards, fellowships and grants over the to Nigeria in 1960 to do research on West course of his over half a century career African drama through a Rockefeller as a writer and human rights activist: The Foundation grant. After that, he wrote and Arts Council of England’s John Whiting founded drama groups. From 1958, when Wole Soyinka, Professor of English Literature, Award in 1966/67 and was an Overseas he wrote ‘The Swamp Dwellers to date, he a distinguished poet, playwright and novelist Fellow at Churchill College, Cambridge has written over 70 books (plays, collection is also a human rights activist famous as the from 1973-74. In 1986 he received the of poetry, novels, autobiographical first African to win the Nobel Peace Prize Agip Prize for Humanities, an Honorary accounts and essays) which include; in Literature in 1986. This was the effect of Membership of the American Academy Novels: ‘The Interpreters and Season of years of accumulation and display of literary and Institute of Arts and Letters, Anisfied- Anomy. Drama or plays: ‘The Lion and the talents from when he played the role of “The Wolf Book Award, Commander Order Jewel, The Trials of Brother Jero, Jero Magician” in a primary school operetta of Merit by the Italian Government and Metamorphosis’, ‘A Dance of the Forests, directed by his father at St. Peter’s School, the George Benson Medal of The Royal Kongi’s Forest, Madmen’ and ‘Specialists, Ake, his home-town. This was at the age of Society for Literature. He has received Death and the King’s Horseman’, ‘From nine from where he continued school at the honorary doctorate degrees from Harvard Zia with Love’ and collection of poetry. Abeokuta Grammar School where he became and Princeton in addition to others from Among them: ‘Mandela’s Earth and Other a prodigious collector of literary prizes Eastern and Western Europe. Ghana International School 5 In other public policy work, he was President of The International Theatre Institute in Paris, GHANA President of International Parliament of Writers INTERNATIONAL and UNESCO Ambassador for the Promotion of African Culture, Human Rights and Freedom of SCHOOL Expression. He has taught and given lectures at many Board of Directors Management Team Universities around the world including the Mr. Kwame Pianim Dr. Mary Ashun Obafemi Awolowo University, University Chairman Acting Principal of Ibadan, University of Ghana, Cambridge University, Cornell University, Harvard, Princeton, Mr. Josiah W. Ampiah Mr. Frank Amponsah- Mensah Yale, Columbia, Emory University in Atlanta and Member Director Vice Principal, Upper Secondary Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He Mrs. Estelle Appiah Ms. Ida Abbeyquaye has also held faculty lectures in The Middle East, Member Director Assistant to Vice Principal, Lower South America, Caribbean and Asia and was a Secondary Professor Florence Dolphyne BBC World Service Reith Lecturer. Director Mrs. Mary Ocansey Vice Principal, Junior School On his 80th birthday partly celebrated in Accra, Mr. Kofi Kwakwa Ghana, two African leaders - Presidents Paul Director Ms. Heidi Owu Kagame of Rwanda, John Mahama of Ghana and Vice Principal, Infant School Ms. Maame Hagan Former President John Agyekum Kufuor (Ghana) Director Mr. Alfred Ayer and scores of others including Ministers of State, Financial Controller Diplomats and Writers honored him at the State Mrs. Augusta Cameron Banquet Hall when the book, ‘Crucible of the Director Mr. James Nkansah IT Systems Manager Ages: Essays in Honour of Wole Soyinka’, edited Mrs. Sophia Amissah Laryea by Ivor Agyeman-Duah and Ogochukwu Promise Board Secretary Mrs. Deborah Tackie was launched as the most diversified anthology Development Manager ever in the career of Africa’s most famous Mrs. Sante Andah playwright, poet and human rights activist. Human Resources and Administration Manager Ms. Maxine Wall School Counsellor 6 Ghana International School PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS At the end of this splendid academic year musical “In The Heights” to our National at Ghana International School, I am not Theatre, reminding us that relationships only delighted, but also overwhelmed and community are critical to our lives. by the excellence you have consistently In so many profound ways, this year has displayed all year. Seated here amongst seen our students mature. And in other us, are thinkers, dreamers and doers… and insightful ways, it has been a pleasure for n behalf of Mrs. Nyatepe-Coo, the today, we celebrate all your achievements: your teachers and I, to enjoy the process Board of Directors, The School Academic, Social, Emotional, Athletic, and of your development with you. OManagement, Staff, Alumni and Artistic. Academically, you have added Friends of GIS, we welcome you to our 60th one more year to your thinking chart, As well, our school is being positively Speech & Prize Giving Day. This year, we exploring the Napoleonic Era, figuring out transformed in various ways. From the are honoured to welcome, Nobel laureate, how greenhouse gases affect the earth’s physical space that next year will welcome Professor Wole Soyinka, who continues atmosphere, using your French or Spanish a new Form 1 - 3 block, a state of the art to entreat us to be change agents of our to explore literary works, and perhaps multi-purpose hall and a new Primary continent. We will forever be grateful for reworking Fermat’s last theorem! You School canteen, to our internal learning the time he has taken to be with us today. have made lasting friendships, endured spaces; we are excited at the changes I also extend a hearty thank you to Mr. Ivor canteen food and participated in events that will herald an even greater focus on Agyeman Duah, for his lobbying efforts in like the UN Day. Perhaps you were one teaching and learning. making Professor Soyinka’s presence here of those who brought the award winning a reality. Ye Daase! Ghana International School 7 We will direct much of our energies to loaded. Concerns about health and safety, and Mr. Odoom, HOD of Chemistry. We teacher support: through professional loss (in handling physical cash) and speed know there are many ways in which development in order to increase the of service will be addressed by this new students will remember you - we wish opportunities our teachers have, to system. We trust that parents will also you all, every success in the next phase continuously develop new skills, and be thrilled that they will now have a way of your lives, and hope that retirement enhance existing ones. Inherently, we of monitoring and managing how our will be very rewarding! Thank you for the know that a critical determinant of student students manage their money. time you spent with our students, and the success... is the teacher, and we plan commitment you showed in, and out of, In the new Form 1 - 3 block, specialized to keep providing all the support, and class. You were an integral part of all the classrooms for Math and Geography will resources they need to ensure that we all successes GIS has experienced. On behalf make learning far more hands-on with get to enjoy the best learning experience of the board of directors, staff, parents and the expectation that once understanding possible. students, we applaud and thank you! Of is increased, motivation to participate great sadness to us, was the loss of our We also want to encourage more parents in, and excel in, external competitions beloved teacher, Mr.