Akim Asafo Senior High School (SHS) located in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region is suffering due to serious infrastructural deficits and years of neglect by previous governments.
The school which was established in 1991 and currently boasts of a student population of nearly two thousand (2000) is struggling with accommodation challenges in terms of dormitories for its students especially the huge female population and staff bungalows for teaching and non-teaching staff.
The school is also struggling with inadequate classroom facilities and seemingly limited and congested ICT lab which only has dozens of computers for its hundreds of students.
What is perhaps deplorable is that some dormitory block projects which were started some few years ago have been abandoned to the mercy of the weather and are being overtaken by weeds.
The 72-acre school compound also becomes inaccessible whenever it rains as the grounds become muddy especially the precincts of the administration block, the dining hall and the few dormitory blocks.
The school authorities say petitions to the Ghana Education Service Head Office and other local authoritie for assistance have not yielded much fruits.
They recalled the only time the school received a major facelift was under the tenure of the late President John Atta Mills when the Administration Block and the few dormitories were built.
In view of the heartrending situation, some old students of the school have appealed to the government to urgently commit resources to tackle the challenges.
Speaking yesterday during the Akim Asafo Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Week Celebration, Kwame Owusu Danso Esq., an old student urged the government to address the plight of the students who struggle for space in their dormitories and classrooms.
Speaking on the Theme, “Building Futures Through Competence, Confidence and Character”, the broadcaster and lawyer also called on the old students of the school to join resources to address the challenges facing their alma matter.
Kwame Owusu Danso widely known as KOD told the students to take their studies seriously and not be deterred by the challenges of today.
The SRC Week Celebration at Akim Asafo Senior High School came alive with inspiration as the former student and guest speaker delivered a powerful address urging students to build their lives on the pillars of competence, confidence, and character.
Kod described his return to the school as a moment of reflection and responsibility, reminding students that the institution was built through sacrifice, discipline, and vision.
He recounted how, despite limited resources during his time as a student, learners possessed an unbreakable hunger to succeed—an attitude he encouraged current students to adopt.
“Never allow the size of your beginning to determine the size of your future,” he told the gathering, stressing that greatness responds to preparation, not publicity.
Kod challenged students to see their education as more than just a path to passing examinations.
He explained that their true duty is to carry the name of Akim Asafo SHS into universities, industries, and leadership spaces with excellence and integrity.
Touching on competence, the speaker encouraged students to take their studies seriously, describing books as “passports” to future authority and opportunity.
He noted that mastery of knowledge builds power, independence, and relevance in a competitive world.
On confidence, Kod emphasised that genuine self-belief grows from preparation and hard work.
Whether in academics, business, entrepreneurship, media, or technology, he urged students to develop vision, discipline, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
He also highlighted the importance of engineering, technical skills, and industrial development, stating that Ghana needs builders and problem-solvers, not only talkers.
According to him, skills must be supported by discipline and integrity to create positive national impact.
Addressing students with creative and practical talents, Kod encouraged them to nurture their gifts through consistent practice and improvement, explaining that talent becomes a legacy only when matched with discipline.
Central to his message was the call for strong character.
He warned that many of Ghana’s challenges are the result of educated individuals who lack values, and urged students to choose to become competent, confident, and principled leaders.
He concluded by charging students to write meaningful life stories that would bring pride to their school, families, and country.
“They came from Akim Asafo—and they made a difference,” he said, expressing hope that the next generation would rise higher and dream bigger.
Some of the invited guests to the programme were Lawyer Nii Kwartei Kojo Owoo, Managing and Co Partner at Africa Law Focus in Accra, Zeena Amini, International Relations Consultant on Culture and Politics.
