The 2000 Year Group of Opoku Ware School (OWASS) has invested over GH₵1 million in a transformative landscaping project to enhance the school’s environment.
The initiative introduced paving systems through open-cell pavers that incorporate grass growth, connecting to dormitories and halls to improve accessibility.
The project aims to address land erosion of the school’s compound and open drainage systems, to curb the health and environmental risks they pose to students.
The Opoku Ware School in the Ashanti region accommodates about four thousand students.
Critical areas where daily school routine and non-academic activities go on, including dormitories, playgrounds and teachers bungalows, have untarred routes and pavements, impeding smooth commuting.
The pathways in the school have not been easily accessible to the students, with worse situations when it rains.
As part of their 25th anniversary, the 2000 year group of the OWASS, described as AY Group, has unveiled a landscape project to improve the conditions of commuting and beautification in the school.
The landscaping project costing GH₵1 million includes laying of ground pipes to connect running water, and paving systems that incorporate grass growth, through open-cell pavers connecting to some dormitories and halls.
Vice President of the AY Group, Katakyie Owusu Boateng John (AY 203) indicated the gesture will improve the school environment and make it conducive for students to use.
“This legacy project has been done through thick and thin to make the dream of our dear Headmaster and his management come through by landscaping the area covering St Mark, St. Luke and St Andrew. This informs you of the love we have for our alma mater. The name of the area is now ‘AY ARENA’.
“Indeed, it’s a project worthy of its value as it has uplifted the image of the school. Apart from the beautiful environment we have created, now there would be no open drainage to breed mosquitoes and cause students to fall sick. Water storage tanks have been properly positioned, and pipelines improved to increase the sources of water for our dear Owarens. The massive land erosion and degradation around this area have all been taken care of,” he said.
The 25th anniversary and homecoming of the AY Group was commemorated with a colourful event that assembled management, staff, old students, and students of OWASS.
The event was themed “Developing 21st Century Talent; Integrating Digital and Social Skills” to emphasize the importance of adapting to new trends into the education system.
Minister for Works and Housing, Katakyie Kenneth Adjei (AQ203), commended the alumni and stakeholders for their support to improve teaching and learning in the school.
“The active support of all stakeholders is indispensable. I am delighted to learn that Katakyie Tony (Z 7) will soon aid the school improve its ICT teaching and learning. I also commend the strong Alumni body whose investment has contributed to our alma mater,” he said.
Dean, Office of International Relations at the University of Cape Coast, Katakyie Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi (AY174) called for constant maintenance of new projects for prolonged use.
“We never had Akatakyie coming back to do such projects when we were in school but in recent past the status quo has changed and Akatakyie are undertaking various projects to help make the school one of the best in Africa.
“It’s our plea that students don’t take these actions for granted but rather take good care of these projects so that our hard earned funds are not wasted in the shortest possible time. We also appeal to the school management to employ a consistent maintenance culture to keep the project in shape as they always do,” he said.
Teachers and students who exhibited exceptional roles in the development of the school were awarded.
The AZ Group was officially handed the baton to take over from the AY Group for the 74th Anniversary Celebrations in 2027.
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