Akwamu Paramount Chief Calls for Education Built on Identity, Character and Self-Reliance

The Paramount Chief of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, has called for an education system built on identity, character and self-reliance, stressing the need to ensure that no child is left behind.

He said every child was an asset to the nation and deserved the opportunity to discover and develop his or her God-given potential, regardless of personal circumstances.

Odeneho Akoto made the call as the guest speaker at the 25th anniversary celebration of Corri Creche and Crimson Dawn Schools, a private basic school at Akosombo in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

The celebration, held last Saturday, was on the theme: “Impacting Future Generations Through Academic Excellence.”

The chief emphasised that education must go beyond the acquisition of certificates to nurturing thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, professionals and responsible leaders capable of identifying community challenges and developing practical solutions.

“We must encourage education that creates employment, promotes agriculture and enterprise, protects our environment, preserves our history and culture and opens new opportunities for the youth of Akwamu and Ghana at large,” he said.

He described educational institutions such as Corri Creche and Crimson Dawn Schools as important partners in the development of the Akwamu Traditional Area.

Their work, he said, complemented the efforts of parents, traditional authorities, government and the wider community in preparing children to become responsible and productive citizens.

From a small creche to a growing school

Corri Creche and Crimson Dawn Schools began as a creche on May 8, 2001, with seven children under the leadership of its founder, Corrinne Sackey.

The school has since expanded to include a creche, primary and junior high school, with a combined population of 450 pupils and students.

Mrs Sackey established the creche to address the difficulties working mothers in Akosombo faced in finding suitable childcare after their maternity leave. The facility initially admitted babies as young as three months old.

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, the Director of the school said its main objective was to provide quality early childhood education in a safe and nurturing environment that supports the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children.

She expressed satisfaction that the vision behind the establishment of the school had been realised, pointing to its graduates who now occupy various positions of trust in Ghana and abroad.

Mrs Sackey also disclosed that the school’s junior high school had consistently produced some of the best Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results in the Asuogyaman District in recent years.

She attributed the achievement to the dedication, hard work and commitment of the school’s staff, as well as the support of her husband, Theophilus Sackey.

Alumni network inaugurated

As part of the anniversary activities, the Corricrim Alumni Network (CAN) was formally inaugurated under the motto, “Great Stars Will Continue to Shine.”

The network is expected to strengthen ties among former students, encourage them to give back to their alma mater and inspire current pupils and students to pursue excellence.

Demonstrating its commitment to the school, the alumni network presented three water dispensers for use by the school community.

The celebration also featured the recognition of individual students and staff members for their hard work, dedication and service to the institution over the years.

Call for innovation and discipline

The Chairman for the occasion, Dr Paa Kwesi Eduafo Yankey, Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University and a member of the school’s board, called for greater integration of innovation and technology into the country’s education system.

He, however, stressed that technological advancement must go hand in hand with discipline, character formation, creativity and critical thinking to prepare learners for the demands of a changing world.

Among the dignitaries who attended the celebration were Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee, a member of the school’s board, and former Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.

The anniversary marked a significant milestone in the school’s journey, celebrating its growth from a small creche serving seven children into an institution providing education from early childhood through junior high school.