Ghana’s
Asante
Kingdom
(Ashanti
Region)
is
home
to
some
of
the
country’s
oldest
and
most
prestigious
senior
high
schools
(SHS).
These
schools
have
historically
played
an
important
role
in
developing
the
region’s
education
system
and
promoting
national
growth.
The
following
is
a
list
of
the
top
10
oldest
senior
high
schools
in
the
Asante
Kingdom
(Ashanti
Region).
OSEI
KYERETWIE
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL
–
OKESS
(87
years)
Oseikyeretwie
Senior
High
School
Osei
Kyeretwie
Senior
High
School
(OKESS)
was
founded
in
July
1937
by
Sierra
Leonean
J.T.
Robert
as
the
first
secondary
school
on
Asante
land,
initially
called
Asante
Collegiate.
It
was
located
in
the
Asafo
suburb
of
Kumasi
and
started
as
a
private
institution
for
a
small
group
of
male
students.
The
school
was
later
renamed
in
honour
of
Asantehene
Otumfuo
Osei
Agyemang
Prempeh
II,
also
known
as
Barima
Osei
Kyeretwie.
After
the
renaming,
the
school
moved
to
a
new
site
at
Dichemso,
previously
occupied
by
Modern
City
Academy.
The
student
population
grew
rapidly,
prompting
Asantehene
Osei
Agyemang
Prempeh
II
to
acquire
a
larger
site
at
Old
Tafo.
The
school
operated
at
both
locations
for
several
years
before
permanently
relocating
to
the
Old
Tafo
campus
in
the
2004/05
academic
year.
The
Dichemso
campus
is
now
home
to
Serwaa
Nyarko
Girls’
SHS.
The
school’s
motto
is
“Service
to
God
and
Humanity,”
and
its
students
are
affectionately
referred
to
as
“Ahenemma”
(Princes
and
Princesses).
Today,
OKESS
stands
as
a
prominent
educational
institution
in
Tafo,
a
suburb
of
Kumasi.
OSEI
TUTU
BOYS’
SCHOOL
–
OT
(84
years)
Osei
Tutu
Senior
High
School
The
Vacus
land
was
established
in
1940
by
the
Methodist
Church
to
fill
a
gap
created
by
the
establishment
of
Mmofraturo
Girls
Boarding
School,
providing
a
middle
school
exclusively
for
boys.
Initially,
the
school
operated
out
of
a
bungalow
at
Freeman
College
in
Kumasi,
near
Wesley
College.
The
school’s
enrollment
grew
quickly,
prompting
the
Church
to
search
for
a
permanent
location.
The
leadership
sought
a
new
site
and
approached
Manhyia
for
a
suitable
parcel
of
land.
The
Akroponghene
at
the
time,
Nana
Kwabina
Sarfo
II,
had
previously
expressed
his
disappointment
to
Otumfuo
Osei
Agyemang
Prempeh
II
about
a
land
offer
that
had
been
declined
by
another
group.
In
response,
the
Asantehene
directed
that
the
land
in
Akropong
be
given
to
the
Methodist
Church
for
the
new
school.
Additionally,
Otumfuo
Osei
Agyemang
Prempeh
II
instructed
that
the
school
be
named
in
honour
of
Otumfuo
Osei
Tutu
I,
the
founder
of
the
Asante
Kingdom.
In
recognition
of
the
contributions
from
both
Otumfuo
Osei
Agyemang
Prempeh
II
and
Nana
Kwabina
Sarfo
II,
the
two
premier
houses
of
the
school
were
named
after
them.
The
school’s
motto,
“MY
UTMOST
FOR
HIS
HIGHEST,”
reflects
its
ethos,
and
its
former
students
are
known
as
ABREMPONG.
The
school
shares
an
affiliation
with
Afia
Kobi
Girls’
Senior
High
School
as
its
counterpart
for
girls.
EFFIDUASI
SEC.
COM
SCHOOL
-EFFISCO
(81
years)
Effiduasi
SecCom
school
The
school,
popularly
known
as
Mpanimfo?,
was
founded
by
Mr.
E.R.
Addow
in
1943
as
the
Modern
School
of
Commerce
(MODESCO)
in
Akwamu,
a
suburb
of
Effiduase.
Initially,
the
school
focused
exclusively
on
commercial
subjects
such
as
Typing,
Shorthand,
and
Office
Practice,
catering
to
the
growing
need
for
skilled
clerical
workers.
In
1963,
the
school
was
absorbed
into
the
public
education
system,
leading
to
a
broadening
of
its
curriculum.
New
subjects,
including
Mathematics,
English
Language,
Science,
Geography,
and
Accounting,
were
introduced,
and
the
school’s
name
was
changed
to
Effiduase
Secondary
Commercial
School
(EFFISCO)
to
reflect
its
expanded
offerings.
The
school
was
later
relocated
to
its
current
site,
which
was
donated
by
the
Akrobeto
and
Kyidom
families
and
endorsed
by
the
Effiduase
Divisional
Council.
The
school’s
former
students
are
known
as
Mpanimfo?,
meaning
‘Elders’
or
‘Seniors’.
Its
motto,
“Strenue”
(Latin
for
‘Actively’),
reflects
its
commitment
to
excellence,
and
it
is
recognised
as
the
oldest
commercial/business
school
in
the
Asante
Kingdom.
ST.
MONICA’S
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL
(78
years)
St
Monica
Senior
High
School
St.
Monica’s
School
was
founded
at
Asante
Mampong
between
1931
and
1936
following
a
request
by
the
Asantehene,
Otumfuo
Agyeman
Prempeh
I,
to
the
Anglican
Church.
The
school
was
established
to
provide
higher
education
for
women
in
the
Asante
region,
complementing
the
existing
Wesley
Training
College
for
men,
which
had
been
set
up
by
the
Methodist
Church.
Originally,
St.
Monica’s
was
founded
in
Cape
Coast
in
1926
but
was
relocated
to
Asante
Mampong
due
to
land
constraints
and
at
the
behest
of
the
Asantehene.
In
1946,
St.
Monica’s
was
formally
established
as
a
separate
secondary
school,
distinct
from
the
Women’s
Training
College.
The
school
has
a
historic
connection
with
Adisadel
College,
as
it
was
the
ceremonial
boys’
school
for
St.
Monica’s,
where
students
were
referred
to
as
‘Santamonica’.
However,
due
to
the
distance,
Mfantseman
Girls’
School
has
taken
on
the
role
of
hosting
the
male
students,
leading
to
friendly
rivalries
and
regular
interactions
during
each
other’s
speech
and
prize
days.
St.
Monica’s
School
also
served
as
the
ceremonial
girls’
school
for
the
Asante
royal
family,
particularly
when
male
heirs
were
attending
Adisadel
College.
Known
for
their
elegance
and
graceful
presence,
the
students
have
earned
the
nickname
“Aho?f?fo?”
(meaning
‘Beautiful
Girls’).
The
school
is
renowned
for
its
athletic
achievements,
holding
the
record
for
the
most
Super
Zonals
trophies
in
the
Ashanti
Region,
second
only
to
TI
AMASS,
Kumasi.
PREMPEH
COLLEGE
-PC
(75
years)
Prempeh
College
Prempeh
College
was
founded
in
1949
by
the
Asanteman
Council,
the
British
Colonial
Government,
the
Methodist
Church
of
Ghana,
and
the
Presbyterian
Church
of
Ghana.
It
holds
the
distinction
of
being
the
first
school
in
Ghana
to
be
managed
jointly
by
both
the
Presbyterian
and
Methodist
churches.
The
school
was
named
after
Asantehene
Otumfuo
Osei
Tutu
Agyeman
Prempeh
II,
who
donated
the
land
for
its
construction.
The
college
was
designed
to
model
Eton
College
in
England.
The
school
has
an
impressive
record
in
academic
and
extracurricular
achievements.
It
won
the
National
Science
and
Maths
Quiz
(NSMQ)
in
1994
and
1996
and
holds
the
second-highest
number
of
NSMQ
trophies.
Additionally,
Prempeh
College
boasts
the
most
International
Robotics
Championship
trophies
of
any
school
in
Ghana.
The
school’s
alumni
are
known
as
“Amanfo?,”
and
the
school
is
affiliated
with
Yaa
Asantewaa
Girls’
SHS,
collectively
referred
to
as
“Amanadehye?.”
Located
in
Sofoline,
a
suburb
of
Kumasi,
Prempeh
College’s
motto
is
“Suban
Ne
Nimde?,”
which
translates
to
“Character
and
Integrity.”
The
school
continues
to
uphold
these
values
while
fostering
excellence
in
both
academics
and
character
development.
TI
AHMADIYYA
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL-TI
AMASS(74
Years)
TI
Ahmadiyya
Senior
High
School
Talimul
Islam
Ahmadiyya
Senior
High
School
(TI
Ahmadiyya
SHS)
was
established
on
30th
January
1950
by
the
Ahmadiyya
Muslim
Mission,
Ghana.
The
first
headmaster
was
Dr.
S.
B.
Ahmad,
an
expatriate,
who
started
the
school
with
just
twenty-five
students
and
seven
teachers.
The
school’s
name,
“Talimul
Islam,”
is
an
Arabic
phrase
meaning
“The
Teachings
of
Islam,”
reflecting
its
religious
foundation.
The
school,
which
was
the
first
Muslim
secondary
school
in
Ghana,
has
grown
significantly
over
the
years.
There
are
now
several
TI
Ahmadiyya
schools
in
the
Ashanti
region,
each
distinguished
by
its
location.
The
TI
Ahmadiyya
SHS
in
Kumasi,
commonly
referred
to
as
“Real
AMASS”
or
“AMASS
Phobia,”
is
particularly
well-known
for
its
reputation.
Located
in
Asafo,
opposite
the
Baba
Yara
Sports
Stadium,
Real
AMASS
has
gained
prominence
for
its
excellence
in
sports,
particularly
in
the
Ashanti
Regional
Super
Zonal
championships,
where
it
holds
the
most
trophies.
This
has
earned
the
school
a
competitive
reputation
in
the
region.
OPOKU
WARE
SCHOOL
–
OWASS
(72
years)
Opoku
Ware
Senior
High
School
Opoku
Ware
School
was
founded
in
1952
by
the
Catholic
Missionary
and
is
named
after
Asante
King
Otumfuo
Opoku
Ware
I,
who
was
admired
for
his
leadership,
military
strength,
and
support
for
education.
It
is
believed
to
be
the
first,
and
possibly
the
only,
Catholic
school
in
Ghana
named
after
a
king.
Otumfuo
Opoku
Ware
I’s
passion
for
education
inspired
the
school’s
establishment.
The
alumni
of
Opoku
Ware
School
are
known
as
Akatakyie,
an
Asante
term
meaning
“conquering
heroes.”
The
school’s
patron
saint
is
Saint
Thomas
Aquinas,
and
its
motto,
Deus
Lux
Scientiae,
translates
as
“God
is
the
Light
of
Knowledge.”
The
school
has
a
strong
cultural
identity,
with
each
student
being
assigned
a
unique
code
based
on
their
year
of
entry,
making
them
more
commonly
known
by
their
number
rather
than
their
names.
Located
in
Santasi,
a
suburb
of
Kumasi,
Opoku
Ware
School
is
affiliated
with
St.
Louis
SHS,
and
together
the
two
schools
form
Akataslopsa.
The
school
has
earned
a
reputation
for
academic
excellence,
having
been
recognised
as
the
best
in
the
Ashanti
Region
for
WASSCE
performance,
and
is
also
a
two-time
winner
of
the
National
Science
and
Maths
Quiz
(NSMQ).
KONONGO
ODUMASI
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL
–
Great
KOSS
(71
years)
Konongo
Odumasi
Senior
High
School
Konongo
Odumasi
Senior
High
School
(KOSS)
was
officially
opened
on
23rd
February
1953
as
the
first
secondary
school
in
the
Asante
Akyem
area.
Initially,
the
school
had
21
boys
and
5
girls,
and
it
was
part
of
the
1951
Gold
Coast
Government’s
“Accelerated
Development
Plan
for
Education.”
The
two
towns,
Konongo
and
Odumasi,
both
vied
for
the
privilege
of
hosting
the
school,
leading
to
a
rivalry
that
was
eventually
resolved
in
a
spirit
of
unity.
The
conflict
between
the
two
towns
was
settled
when
leaders
realised
that
collaboration
was
key.
The
school
initially
operated
from
a
temporary
structure
known
as
“Biafra,”
named
after
the
secessionist
state
from
the
Nigerian
Civil
War.
This
period
of
compromise
and
cooperation
laid
the
foundation
for
the
school’s
identity
and
growth.
The
school’s
name,
Konongo-Odumasi
Secondary
School,
symbolises
the
unity
of
the
two
towns.
Its
motto,
“Anuanom”
with
the
response
“Baanu
Y?”,
reflects
this
spirit.
KOSS
is
renowned
for
its
academic
achievements,
notably
being
the
first
and
only
school
in
Ghana
to
win
the
National
Independence
Day
Debate
competition,
a
title
it
successfully
defended
the
following
year.
ASANTEMAN
SENIOR
HIGH
SCHOOL
–
ASASS
(70
Years)
Asanteman
Senior
High
School
The
school,
regarded
as
the
official
school
of
the
Asante
Empire,
was
founded
in
1954
as
a
co-educational
day
school
by
the
Asante
Youth
Association
(AYA)
to
meet
the
growing
demand
for
secondary
education
in
the
Asante
Kingdom.
At
the
time,
there
were
few
secondary
schools
in
the
region,
forcing
students
to
travel
to
coastal
areas
for
their
education.
Initially
named
Asante
Youth
Association
Day
Secondary
School,
the
institution
was
under
the
management
of
AYA
until
1962,
when
it
was
absorbed
into
the
public
education
system.
Over
time,
the
school
expanded
from
a
single
stream
to
three
streams
by
the
1980s,
reflecting
its
growth
and
increasing
enrolment.
Both
former
and
current
students
are
known
as
“Nananom,”
an
Asante
term
meaning
“Kings
and
Queens.”
The
school,
located
in
Bantama,
Kumasi,
continues
to
be
a
significant
institution
in
the
region,
with
its
legacy
and
motto
guiding
its
community.
KUMASI
ACADEMY
–
KUMACA
(67
Years)
Kumasi
Academy
Kumasi
Academy,
located
in
Asokore-Mampong,
Kumasi,
was
founded
in
1957
by
the
American
Baptist
Missionary
Union.
Initially
named
Sadler
Baptist
School,
it
began
with
a
middle
school
and
a
seminary
in
1956.
In
the
same
year,
a
secondary
school
was
added
by
Rev.
Poe,
and
it
was
named
Sadler
Baptist
College.
In
1960,
the
seminary
was
relocated
to
Abuakwa,
leaving
the
secondary
school
at
its
original
site
in
Asokore-Mampong.
Despite
attempts
by
the
government
to
influence
its
administration,
the
Baptist
Mission
maintained
control
over
the
school.
Eventually,
the
mission
handed
the
school
over
to
the
government,
with
the
condition
that
the
name
be
changed
and
that
the
Baptist
Mission
retained
the
right
to
teach
religion.
As
a
result,
the
school
was
renamed
Kumasi
Academy.
The
school’s
motto
is
“Vouloir,
c’est
pouvoir,”
a
French
idiom
meaning
“to
want
is
to
be
able
to.”
Its
alumni
are
known
as
“Akunini.”
Kumasi
Academy
gained
national
recognition
when
it
won
the
National
STEMNOVATION
Challenge
in
2022.