On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Talim – Ul – Islam Ahmadiyya Secondary School, Kumasi,  I send you – Ahmadiyya Mission, Board of Governors, Headmasters, Staff and students, Old Students Association and PTA – very warm greetings and felicitations.

It gives me great joy that GREAT AMASS has slowly but steadily grown to the mature and ripe age of 50years.  I certainly share in this steady growth and joy of the school. I am delighted to learn that some basic structures established in the school in the 1980s still exist.  The class meetings, the school durburs and students involvement in school administration have, in no small way, helped to solidify the stability of the school since then.  I remember with nostalgia the PTA established in the early 1980’s the great service it provided – the corn mill, clinic and the conversion of the old dining hall to staff accommodation.  I cannot also forget the acrimonies which the beginning of the construction of a permanent school mosque generated between the school administration and few non Ahmad Muslim parents.  It is now a joy to see that the mosque serves the need of all Muslims in the school.  Our joy should be one that we are all alive today to witness this 50^th anniversary celebration of the school.

For me my career as a full – fledged educational manager and administrator began at GREAT AMASS making the school a special place of pride in my heart.  I recall great individual stalwarts and benefactors of the school as Mrs Elenor B. Ntiforo (then Assistant Headmistress), the late Mrs. Mary Akowuah (then assistant Headmistress) Maulvi A. Wahab (Ameer and Missionary – In – charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana – Board Chairman), the late Alhaji Atta (then Board Member), dynamic Alhaji Essaka (First PTA Chairman), Alhaji Othman (the PTA Vice Chairman), the late Lawyer Imbeah, (school lawyer and one time President of the Ghana Bar Associations), Mr. Sadick Aboagye (First PTA Secretary), Rukia Ennin (first School Nurse), Mrs. Love Asamoah (then domestic Bursar) and the late Mahmud Sam (Bursar).  I salute all these individual and others for their great interest for its high academic and sports performance and discipline.

Perhaps I need to mention a few students in the 1980s who excelled in sports projected the image of the school within and outside Ghana.  Diana Yankey (then Best Hurdler in Africa), Emmanuel Tuffour (Koora) and Helena Amoako.

The 1980s also produced academic giants such as Dr. Wahab Brobbey (Atom) Hakeem S. A., Dr. Rita Bamfi Adomako, Lawyer Mariam Gyasi (Board Member, GNA) and Dr. Kofi Effah.  One other female student now sub.  It F. B Anokye, has made history by becoming the first Ghanaian woman Naval Officer of the Ghana Navy.  The entire staff, students PTA and the Ahmadiyya Muslim were friendly and co-operative.  The sweet memories of the 1980s will forever stay with me.  While thanking the present managements of the school, staff and students, PTA, Old Students Association and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission sustaining the dram of the founders. It is my fervent prayer and hope that Allah, may out of His, guide the school to grow from graceful strength to graceful strength and the years ahead, that the pride we share on this glorious occasion may remain forever.

 HAPPY GOLDEN JUBILEE ANVERSARY TO YOU ALL

 FROM Y. K. EFFAH,

HEADMASTER 1981 - 90