Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua

Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua, (popularly known as GHANASS /ɡəˈnæsː/ guh-NAYS), is a co-educational high school in Koforidua, Ghana It was preceded by the establishment of two colleges that later merged to form what is now known as The Beacon of the East.

Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua
Ghanass Crest
Location
P.O. Box 129 Effiduase Eastern Region Koforidua Ghana
Coordinates	6.10634°N 0.2617°W / 6.10634; -0.2617
Information
School type	High school Co-educational Boarding/ Residential
Motto	Latin: Pro Patria (For Our Fatherland)
Religious affiliation	Non-denominational Christian
Established	1943; 83 years ago
Founder	Fred Addae Francis Adjei-Tetebo
Status	Active
School board	Board of Governors
School district	New Juaben Municipality
Authority	Ministry of Education
Oversight	Ghana Education Service
Headmistress	Mrs. Diana Mintah
Staff	82 teachers, 137 other staff
Grades	Forms 1–3 (10th – 12th grades)
Gender	Co-ed
Age range	14 to 18 years
Enrollment	c. 3,700
Education system	Senior High School
Language	English
Campus	Ghanass Campus
Campus size	1,100 acres (450 ha)
Campus type	Residential garden-style Setting
Houses	Tetebo   Aggrey   Frempong Mposo   Kwaku Boateng   Nyaniba   Juaben Serwaa   Nightingale   Yaa Asantewaa
Colours	Green and Yellow
Slogan	Beacon ! Shine !
Song	"We're the Beacon from the East of Ghana"
Athletics	Track and Field Volleyball Football
Nickname	GHANASS
School fees	Covered for students by Free Education Policy
Alumni	Ghanass Old Students Association (GOSA) Beacon

History

The school, originally named Phoenix College, was founded in 1943 by Fred Addae and Francis Adjei Tetebo, beginning with just sixteen boys in a temporary private building. As enrollment increased, the school moved to a new site in 1950—now home to the Normal Technical Institute in Koforidua—and adopted the name Christ College.

To accommodate further growth, the institution relocated to Effiduase, occupying premises now used by the Effiduase Police Quarters in Koforidua. This move was made possible through the efforts of . Nimako, W. T. Wutor, and Nana Frempong Mposo II. During this time, Francis Adjei Tetebo served as principal following the death of co-founder Fred Addae

Later developments

In 1957, the year Ghana gained independence, Kwame Nkrumah visited Koforidua and requested that the school’s name be changed from Christ College to Ghana Secondary School. The change brought the institution in line with other government-established secondary schools such as Ghana National College in Cape Coast and Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi.

That same year, the school became part of the public education system, and Daniel Ofori Dankwa, formerly a science teacher at Accra Academy, was appointed headmaster. The school held its first speech and prize-giving day in 1957, with an enrollment of 100 boys and six girls, supported by six teachers. Dankwa served until his promotion to Director of Education in 1974, when R. P. Nyarko succeeded him as headmaster.

As of 2015, the school has an enrollment of more than 2,300 students and employs about 80 teachers.

Curriculum

• Business
• General Arts
• General Science
• Home Economics
• Visual Arts
• Agricultural Science

Campus

Below are the facilities provided for the school

• Class Room
• ICT Lab
• Science Lab
• Library

Notable alumni

Further information: Category: Ghana Senior High School (Koforidua) alumni

The alumni association of the school, known as Ghanass Old Students Association (GOSA), has a proud legacy of producing accomplished individuals who have made their mark in various fields. Some of the alumni include:

Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

• Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu – Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana
• Mark Assibey-Yeboah – Ghanaian politician and member of parliament
• Abeiku Santana – media personality and entrepreneur
• Rebekah Awuah – journalist and news anchor at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
• Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh – Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO
• Gifty Oware-Mensah – deputy director of National Service Scheme
• Kurt Okraku – president of the Ghana Football Association
• King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II– Gã Mantse
• Kwabena Baah-Duodu – Ghanaian diplomat
• Frank Albert Odoom – Former Director General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)
• Professor Lydia Aziato – former dean of nursing and midwifery at the University of Ghana and current vice chancellor of University of Health and Allied Sciences
• Michael Okyere Baafi – member of parliament and deputy minister for trade and industry
• Kwaku Ofori Asiamah – former Minister of transport
• Kwasi Boateng Adjei – member of parliament and former deputy minister for local government
• Gloria Sarfo – actress and media personality
• Ohemaa Mercy – gospel musician
• Angel Maxine – Ghanaian musician
• Okailey Verse – Ghanaian musician, singer and songwriter
• Raymond Owusu – Ghanaian professional footballer

Former headteachers

Name	Tenure of Office
Daniel Ofori Dankwa	1957-1974
R. P. Nyarko	1974-1979
G. A. Frempong	1979-1983
R. T. Sackey	1983-1985
G. A. Agyepong	1985-1992
E. K. Darko	1992-1996
S. O. Amaning	1996-2002
Rosemond Bampoe	2002-2011
Abraham Osei-Donkor	2011-2018
Jacob Afful	2018-2021
Patience Naki Mensah	2021-2023
Diana Mintah	2023–present

School Code

0020104