HISTORY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL SCHOOL (MMGCS)
INTRODUCTION
The idea of the establishment of Mary Mother of Good Counsel School was mooted by the Christ the King Parish. It came about as a result of the need to create an opportunity to ease the overwhelming pressure for admission to the Christ the King School. A series of consultations took place among the then Archbishop, Most Rev. Dominic Kodwo Andoh, Mgsr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning and the then Christ the King Parish Pastoral Council. The then retiring headmistress of Christ the King School, Mrs. Patricia Quaidoo was recruited as a consultant to superintend over the opening of the school.
Mrs. Quaidoo, together with Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Paula Nkansah Otchere, HDR, Mrs. Christiana Adofo-Agyakwa, Miss Henrietta Clarke and an attendant, Miss Hannah Tackie began the Mary, Mother of Good Counsel School on Tuesday, 15th September, 1998.
There were two kindergarten classes of forty-nine (49) pupils which comprised of twenty (20) boys and twenty-nine (29) girls.
LAND ACQUISITION AND CLEARANCE
We owe tons of gratitude to Dame MRL. Sis. Afua Amo-Adare who galvanized the resources in the mid 1980’s from Plant Pool Ghana Limited in order to clear the vast land for construction work to commence.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
The first building housed six [6] classrooms: KG 2 A&B, class 1 A&B, class 2 A&B and a big hall for a church.
The ground floor and the first floor of the school were built by the Christ the King Church and supported by the late Mr. Kwabena Peprah. The architect was Mr. Gabrah and the quantity surveyors were the late Sir Kt. Nana Adu-Mpianim and the late Mr. Kodua-Amanfi.
The entrance of the school used to be at the present site of the KG playground. Enrolment of the school was not fill-in but rather was done academically. It was very difficult to commute through the school during the rainy season since it was not paved. Cars got stuck, pupils were carried at the backs of adults, and boards were placed on the muddy grounds for pupils to maneuver their way to the classrooms.
CANOPY WALKWAY
In view of the difficulty during the rainy season, a canopy walkway was constructed and paved in December 2007. The walkway was in two [2] sections. These were:
- From the administration block to the church financed by the PTA under the chairmanship of Mr. Dennis Aggrey Ampiah
- The second part was from the KG block to the street which was sponsored by two parents, Mr. Samuel Priddy and Mr. Harold Awuah Darko.
In the same year, the school road was tarred and this construction paved way for the present entrance and exit gates by the kind courtesy of Mr. Samuel Priddy, Mr. Harold Awuah Darko, Mr. Pwala and an architect, Mr. Nii Fio Kotei.
EXTENSION OF BUILDING
In June 2009, a committee made up of the following was constituted to break grounds for the construction of an extension to the school building for a third stream. The committee members were Rev. Fr. David Arko Amissah [Local Manager]
- Isaac Afrani [Chairman]
- Sis. Paula Nkansah Otchere [Headmistress]
- Henry Dodd [Contractor]
- Augustine Amponsah Yeboah [Secretary]
- Nii Fio Kotei [Architect]
- George Marfo [Quantity surveyor]
- Linda Adomako [Member]
The extension work was completed in September 2009 to begin the 2009/2010 academic year.
In August 2009, the roof of the Science Laboratory, Home Science and Staff Common Room was ripped off and the building was extended laterally to three flours resulting in the provision of ten extra rooms. Construction was completed in August 2010 and students moved into the premises in September 2010. From the initial intake of 49 pupils, enrolment peaked to 813 by 2015.
COURT INJUNCTION
The plan of the school was to have a third floor to accommodate the increasing enrolment numbers of the school. Due to the height of the building, a resident in the locality took the school to court to bar the school from extending the building to accommodate a third floor. The infamous court injunction placed on the building stalled construction work from 2002 to 2005. The legal tussle was resolved and the block was completed in December, 2006. The lawyers who defended the school were Lawyers Nitsugbui [lead counsel], Farouk Seidu, Larry Otoo, Kizito Beyuo and Joseph Sam.
CODE OF CONDUCT
To regulate the conduct of both parents and pupils, the school rules and regulations came into being in the year 2007 with great support from Lawyers Larry Otoo, Farouk Seidu, Mr. Aggrey Ampiah, Mr. Gilbert Buckle and Mr. Awuah Darko.
BASKETBALL COMPLEX
In 2010, the then Girls School Prefect, Miss Samuella Sekyere Abankwa promised in her manifesto to construct a basketball complex which could serve for playing volleyball, handball and lawn tennis. Her father, Mr. Sekyere Abankwa fulfilled the promise and constructed same for the school. Presently, that space is now used as the car park.
SCHOOL FIELD
The school field was a bare land for several years. No activity could be held on it during the rainy season. It was filled with black soil from time to time for grass to be grown but this activity yielded little results. This is because in no time, the field would become bare again.
A permanent solution was found to give the field a face lift. The field was reconstructed in 2018 to contain an artificial turf, spectator’s stands as well as basketball and volleyball courts.
SECTIONAL GROUPS
It was common practice in those days to use the names of the primary colours to label school sectional groups. However, the then proprietor, Most Rev. Dominic Kodwo Andoh insisted that the school’s sectional groups should be named after the archangels, St. Raphael, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Paul, the apostle. The reason behind this was to have these holy angels and saint constantly interceding for the school.
CLUBS
The first clubs that were formed for extra-curricular activities were Girls Guide, Boys Scout, Red Cross, Reading & Debaters Club, Drama & Culture Club and Sewing. Other clubs over the years have since been added.
FIRST SCHOOL MANAGEMENT BOARD
The school shared a joint management board from its inception, with Christ the King school. On 29th May, 2009, the school had its own Management Board inaugurated and constituted with the following people as members:
- Joseph Saam [Board chairman]
- Fr. David Arko Amissah [Local manager]
- Kwasi Asante [PTA chairman]
- Sis. Paula Nkansah Otchere [Headmistress]
- Augustine Amponsah Yeboah [Local manager’s nominee/Teachers rep.]
- Linda Adomako [Archbishop’s rep.]
- Anastasia Owusu Tufuor [Archbishop’s rep.]
- Jennifer Owusu [Parish Council Rep]
- Christiana Adofo [Asst. Head Mistress/ Secretary]
- Fr. Dominic Amegashitsi [Archbishop Rep]
- Veronica Laryea- Replaced Mrs. Adofo as secretary when she retired.
Former Board Chairmen after the inauguration of MMGCS BOARD include:
- John Effah
- Ms Winifred Adutwumwaa Sarpong (Esq.)
CURRENT BOARD CHAIRMAN
Pascal Atta – Fynn (Esq.)
FORMER LOCAL MANAGERS/PRIESTS- IN –CHARGE
- Monsignor Stephen Adu-Kwaning (non-resident)
- Fr. Prince Adelaayitar (non-resident)
- Fr. Daniel Tettedji (non-resident)
- Fr. David Arko Amissah (resident)
- CURRENT LOCAL MANAGER
- Fr. Thomas Betuyre (2020-date)
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
The school, from its inception, had a vibrant P.T.A. The role of chairmen and chairpersons were played by the following people:
- Pitt Doe-1998-1999
- Joseph Sutherland-1999-2001
- Joseph Ekow Paintsil-2001-2002
- Gilbert Buckle-2002-2004
- Dennis Aggrey-Ampiah-2005-2009
- Kwasi Asante-2009-2011
- Cyril Oppong-2012-2014
- Carl Asem-2015-2017
- Mrs. Edem Welbeck-2017-2021
CURRENT PTA CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Ernestina Sarfoa Osei – Tutu Dossah-2022-to-date
LONGEST SERVING TEACHING STAFF
Mrs. Winifred Boateng (1999/2000 academic year to date)
LONGEST SERVING NON-TEACHING STAFF
Ms. Vivian Donkoh (2004/2005 academic year to date)
SCHOOL BRASS BAND
Regimental brass band instruments were bought by the P.T.A to develop the musical talents of pupils and students. It was inaugurated on the 15th May,2007. It became the pride of the school and performed at some state functions such as Independence Day Parades and programmes at the National Theatre. It was under the able leadership of the band instructor, Mr. Bright Acolatse.
SCHOOL VEHICLES
The first administrative car for the office of the headmistress was bought in 2007. It was a Nissan Pickup (hard body) with the registration number GT 5486-Y. Its driver was Mr. Joseph Kwadwo Ankomah.
Subsequently, a 33-seater TATA Bus with the registration number GZ 3142-Y was bought in 2008 by the P.T.A. Its purpose was for picking up and dropping off students. Its driver was Mr. Francis Otchere. It was later sold out by the PTA.
The increasing enrolment of pupils and students brought about the need to acquire a bigger bus. To this end, a 57-seater TATA Bus with the registration number GT 6404-15 was purchased. Its drivers were Uncle Foster and Mr. Stephen Akomeah.
A 33-seater Hyundai Bus, with the registration number 4754-16 was bought to serve as a backup for the operations of the school. Its driver was Mr. Foster Mensah.
Currently, the school has a Mitsubishi Pick-Up vehicle with registration number GE 8217-23 for administrative and official duties. Its driver is Mr. Isaac Gyekye.
The roll call of school prefects for the school over the years is as follows:
Year | Names of Prefects |
2008 | 1. Mr. Kwaku Kobiah Appiah 2. Miss Afia Birago |
2009 | 1. Mr. Kwame Osei Afrane 2. Miss Ruby Ocloo |
2010 | 1. Mr. Kwadwo Worae 2. Miss Samuella Sekyere Abankwa |
2011 | 1. Mr. Yehowa Boye-Sekan 2. Miss Ama Wudu |
2012 | 1. Mr. Sam Smith Yeboah 2. Miss Ama Anima Addo |
2013 | 1. Mr. Nii Odai Odartefio 2. Miss Eno Gyamfuwa Tweneboah Kodua 3. Mr. Abeiku Nyame Williams 4. Miss Nana Yaa Asamoah |
2014 | 1. Mr. Yehowahi Boye-Sekan 2. Miss Fampomaa Addo |
2015 | 1. Miss Samantha Kanyi 2. Mr. Henry Owusu |
2016 | 1. Miss Sybille Sekyere Abankwa 2. Mr. Ryan Selasi |
2017 | 1. Miss Nana Adwoa Quayson 2. Miss Jeanine Abena Darko |
2018 | 1. Mr. Ryan Kekeli Mensah 2. Miss Francine Arthur |
2019 | 1. Miss Yebo Amaleboba 2. Miss crystal ethel Boahene |
2020 | 1. Mr. Shaun Esua-Mensah 2. Miss Abena Krah Owusu |
2021 | 1. Mr. Fidel Kudoto 2. Miss Stephanie Kapi |
2022 | 1. Miss Ellen Bannerman 2. Miss Danuta Mireku |
2023 | 1. Miss Keisha Agyekum 2. Miss Karen Apema Appiah |
2023/2024 | 1.Patrick Oscar Mireku 2.Giovanny Ampofo 3.Ama Nyira Asamoah 4. Juanita Asantewaa Asante |
The school has won lots of trophies during sports and other competitions. Notably amongst them are:
Year |
Awardee(s) |
Awardee(s)/prizes |
2023 | 1st in National Juniors’ Challenge-Greater Accra Region | 1. Fabian Kudoto 2. Nana Adwoa Asiedua Asante 3. Jacob Essilfie 4. Jerome Eson-Benjamin |
2023 | 2nd in National Brain Battle Quiz | 1. Fabian Kudoto 2. Nana Adwoa Asiedua Asante 3. Jacob Essilfie 4. Jerome Eson – Benjamin |
2023 | 2nd in Brain Battle Quiz-Greater Accra Region | 1. Fabian Kudoto 2. Nana Adwoa Asiedua Asante 3. Jacob Essilfie 4. Jerome Eson – Benjamin |
2022 | 1st in Catholic Education Unit Spelling Bee – Greater Accra Region | 1. Emmanuel Asenso-Mensah Jnr. 2. Emma Ashiagbor |
2018 | 1st in Brain Battle Quiz- Greater Accra Region | 1. Joel Aboagye 2. Francine Arthur- |
2015 | 1st in Microsoft Office Specialist National Competition | Samantha Kanyi (represented Ghana in Massachusetts) |
2008 | 1st in Citi FM Essay Writing Competition | Denisse Adjidjonu ( a trip to Amsterdam) |
2008 | 2nd best school B.E.C.E. results(national) |