Odekro's Hansard of Parliament, 2015

Mr. Clement Kofi Humado (NDC - Anlo) 10:55 a.m.

Anlo Secondary School is 50

By GNA

26 May 2009 | Education

Accra, May 26, GNA - Anlo Secondary School (ANSECO) is celebrating its golden jubilee. The School which is located at Anloga in the Volta Region was established on April 10, 1959 by three founding fathers – Torgbui Adeladza II; Mr. C. K. Fiagbe and Mr J. W. K. Doe, the only surviving founder.

The many challenges the school faced at the initial stages related to inadequate infrastructure, equipment, furniture and teaching aids; scarcity of qualified staff; poor patronage by students and financial constraints.

The School initially operated from ‘God Lives House’ which was provided by Mr Doe Tettey with some furniture provided by the Rev. Dr. Ferdinand K. Fiawoo.

The initial motto of the School was “Think Perfect, Speak Perfect”. This motto was later changed to “Truth and Service”. From initial humble beginnings and with financial support from Anloga Welfare Unions based in Kumasi, Koforidua and Takoradi and other individuals, ANSECO grew from strength to strength.

The First Headmaster of the School was Mr. Isaiah Y. Fiagbe. He was later succeeded in 1960 by Mr. Evans Agbottah.

ANSECO was absorbed into the public education system during the 1963/64 academic year. Following the absorption, a search for an energetic graduate was conducted to run the affairs of the School.

The late Mr. Sosthenes Doe Sorkpor, who was then an Assistant Headmaster of Keta Secondary School, was identified and appointed to take over as the Headmaster of the School.

The late S. D. Sorkpor was instrumental in acquiring a permanent site for the School and put up the first classroom block at the present location. ANSECO presented the first ever candidates for the General Certificate in Education (Ordinary Level) Examinations in 1966.

The pioneer students, who wrote the first WAEC examinations included Moses K. Ocloo, the First Senior Prefect;, Vincent Agbottah; the Rev. Andreas Fiagbe; W. C. Dzogbeta; Herbert August; Vincentia Sikah; Salome Agbeve; Catherine Amegah and Irene Afetorgbor.

The School’s infrastructure improved tremendously during the 24 years that Mr Sorkpor was the Headmaster of the School.

ANSECO has produced professionals in various spheres of life – education; medicine; nursing; engineering; economics; pharmacy; law; administration; accountancy among other fields.

Students of ANSECO have for the past three successive years won the National Constitution Game Competition organized by the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

The School has a Police Cadet Corps through the instrumentality of Mr. E. K. Keteku, who was then the Headmaster of the School. The current student population of ANSECO is 1,251.

It has 52 teaching staff and 53 non-teaching staff. The current Headmaster of ANSECO, Mr. W. I.K. Azumah took over the headship on July 7, 2006. He has brought a lot of dynamism into the school administration and together with the Board of Governors has developed a plan to improve upon the infrastructure at the School.

To mark the 50th anniversary of ANSECO, a series of activities are being undertaken by the students – cultural and gospel music shows; inter-school quiz competition and talks on career development.

In addition, there would be a congress of old students at White House Hotel on Friday May 29, 2009. Vice President John Dramani Mahama would be the guest of honour at a grand durbar of students, old students, well wishers and invited guests on the school campus on Saturday May 30 at 10:00 hours.

On Saturday evening, there will be an anniversary dance for all old students at Lorneh lodge.

GNA

CITED:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.modernghana.com/amp/news/218338/anlo-secondary-school-is-50.html

Mr. James Worlator Kwami Doe, affectionately called “Papa” by many and “Kwamivi” by his contemporaries at Anloga, was born on 10th April, 1926 at “Same”, Alagbatigave, a suburb of Anloga. He was the second of the only two sons of Mr.Robert Hamenu Doe, popularly known as “Doe Tailor” of Tunu and Madam Adugbadzea Abla Nkornu of the ‘Tsiame’ and 'Dzorvia' Clans of Anloga, a renowned trader of her time. As a child he grew under the tutelage of his grandmother (as his mother was often unavailable due to her trading activities) and later stayed with his uncle, Dadolisa at Kpotorgbe in the year 1938. 

His educational records indicated that at a point he attended AME Zion School at Abum wells, Cape Coast till standard four (4) while staying with his Cousin Dravie, a police officer. He was transferred to EP Senior School, Anloga and completed Standard Seven (7) in 1943. His dream to continue his education at Mfantsipim Secondary School, Cape Coast was truncated due to the death of his mother. Later on he enrolled in the Agricultural Training College, Kwadaso-Kumasi and completed as a technical officer in 1953.

His career was vast, varied and versatile which enabled him traverse many corners of the country and have a taste of many occupations. He first secured employment at the Post Office in Accra with the help of his uncle, Yaovi Adrah (then in the Army) in January, 1944. Later in the same year, he moved on to work as a conductor with the Municipal Bus service till it 1948. It was during his career as a bus conductor that he become acquainted with the Millet family through their cook who quite often joined the bus. 

After his tenure as a bus conductor, he was employed by the Ministry of Agriculture as a “Literate helper” to cocoa farmers and posted to Asamankese and later to Koforidua, both in the Eastern Region. He was later promoted to the rank of “Field Assistant” and then “Gang Leader” in 1951 and transferred to Bunso also, in the Eastern Region. In 1956 he was posted to Juaso then to Afijase and later to Konongo, all in the Ashanti Region.

In 1957 he was transferred to Kpeve, then to Jasikan (both in the Volta Region) in 1959 and to Akim Oda in 1960. He worked hard to gain promotion to the rank of “Assistant Survey Officer” (ASO) so in 1962 was posted to the Biani Cocoa Station. He progressed to become “Officer-in-Charge” at the Fumso Cocoa Station in1963 till 1964. As “Officer-in-Charge”, he supervised the implementation of certified agronomic practices on cocoa farms at Fumso, Akrokere, Akosrem and Poanu, all in the Ashanti Region. He resigned from the Ministry of Agriculture in 1965 because according to him, he believed the education of his children could be jeopardized because of the rampant transfers. 

In February, 1965 he renewed acquaintance with the Millets or 'Milaad' (and sons) and was appointed the first black Sales Manager of the Millet Textile Factory then located at West Industrial Area-Accra. Millet Textile Factory has since metamorphosed into Spintex and now Printex. He held this position till 1970 after which he established his own “suiting material” shop – Dowotor Development Enterprise at Okaishie, Tudu in Accra with supplies of Fabrics from the Millet Textile factory. That business folded up after the June 4th of revolution of 1979. During this period he also established quite a lucrative poultry farm at his residence at Kpehe (Caprice). That enabled him supply poultry products of chicken meat and eggs to some popular restaurants in Accra. Also, sometime after his resignation from the Millet Textile Factory, he was engaged by his former employers to establish a Cotton Plantation at Osuwem and Asutsuare in the Dangbe West District of Greater Accra to produce and supply cotton to the factory. 

Conscious of the healthcare needs of people in his locality at Kpehe and its environs, Papa set up a clinic –Salvation clinic, in his residence to address that need from 1980 – 1990 with qualified medical personnel to run the facility. Initially the clinic catered for general healthcare and later dental healthcare.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, his working career cannot be complete without mentioning his partnership with Mr. C.K. Fiagbe and Torgbui Adeladze to establish the Anlo Secondary School on 10th April, 1959. That feat immediately makes him a co-founder, co-proprietor, co-financier and co-administrator in those early days of the school. The family is indeed grateful; to the schoo,board of governors and others for appreciating their endeavours by erecting busts in their honour. It  is his wish also to mention the selfless contributions of Prof. Isaiah Fiagbe (formerly of School of Pharmacy, KNUST) as first headmaster, Mr. Evans Agbotah and Mr. Yesuanabge Amable, first graduate tutor of Science who taught the students freely without salary and also bought a lot of textbooks for the school from his own resources. 

Religiously he was initially a Presbyterian, baptized at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Anloga on 29th November, 1942. His faith in God was manifested by his unflinching commitment to live by God’s commandments regarding marriage, christian upbringing of his family and love of neighbor. In 1971 though not yet a Catholic, he took his marriage to the Altar at St. Paul Catholic, Kpehe-Accra that enabled his beloved wife to once again become united to the Lord in the reception of Holy Communion. He later fully embraced the Catholic faith and was received into the Church on 19th February, 2000. He left behind his only wife Mrs. Beatrice A Doe. (Whom he married at Kpeve in August, 1958), six sons and a daughter.  

Papa is being laid to rest this weekend at Anloga in the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa. He was the only surviving  founding member of the Anloga Secondary School. A monument has been erected at the school in his hornor. The Anlo state will be paying their last respect to one of their beloved son on Saturday 27th Febuary, 2016.

I remember him always saying " Born live and die in Ghana," He lived a simple life and was always  content with himself. One thing I remember most is he had sweet tooth. No matter how long you  left home, whenever you come back, all what he wanted was his sweets. He always joked of not seeing that you are back unless he gets his sweets which  personally, I loved doing gladingly.

Papa I miss you sooooooo much.

May God be with you till we meet again.

Farewell Papa.