In preparation for its 2010 Fundraising Dinner Dance, find out how the Class of '83 from one of Ghana's leading schools is joining the campaign to restore Achimota to its former glory.

ReConnect Africa (RCA): What makes Achimota School so special to Ghana's educational sector?

Achimota Class of 1983 (C '83): Achimota School is not so much special as unique. To be able to appreciate this perspective, one needs to take a little trip down memory lane. Achimota School was the dream of the British Governor to the Gold Coast, Sir Gordon Guggisberg. Together with two visionaries, Kwegir Aggrey and Alex Fraser he set up the Prince of Wales College in 1927. The school was modelled on the very best of British schools, Harrow and Eton. The Prince of Wales College later became Achimota School.

Kwegir Aggrey famously said, 'If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation' and with such foresight, it comes as no great surprise that Achimota School was one of the first co-educational institutions to be set up in Africa.

No school has had a greater impact on higher education in Ghana, and dare I say Africa, than Achimota School. The University of Ghana finds its roots in Achimota School and its engineering school was the genesis of the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

Amongst the long list of former students who went on to prominence in Ghana, and indeed internationally, are Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. K A Busia, Akufo-Addo, former President J. J. Rawlings, Professor John Atta Mills, the current President of Ghana, Sir Dawuda Jawara of the Gambia and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

RCA: What are some of the main challenges currently facing the School?

C '83: The School, in common with other state-owned educational institutions in Ghana, receives a grant from the central government to run its educational programme. This covers staff salaries, text books, educational equipment and maintenance of its physical infrastructure. The school is equipped with a swimming pool, a post office, extensive sports grounds including tennis courts and a cricket oval, gymnasia, two assembly halls, a hospital, two chapels and an arboretum.

As you can imagine, due to the sheer size of Achimota School, its abundant facilities and installations, the funding provided by government grants is stretched to the very limit. Being a state school, it is also restricted in the extent to which student fees could be increased to raise additional funds. As a result, there are often little or no funds left for any new development.

The growth rate of the student population far surpasses the pace of development; with the school's day and boarding facilities serving a total of over 5,000 students –well over the original intended number. No special provision is made for the specific requirements of the School, considering its imposing physical size and the extent of its infrastructure. Current facilities are thus rendered inadequate, over-stretched and antiquated. Not to mention the need to maintain a dynamic learning environment whilst ensuring continual improvement in academic excellence.

RCA: Can you tell us about the fundraising dinner dance and what it involves?

C '83: In 1993, two members of the Old Achimotan Association UK (OAA-UK) committee came up with the idea of a fund raising dinner dance to encourage participation of the huge number of young Akoras or Motowners (as Achimotan alumni are affectionately called) resident in the UK to raise funds annually for their Alma Mater.

The very first OAA Fundraising Dinner Dance took place at The Portman Hotel (London) in February 1995. It was a huge success and the rest is now history. This black-tie fund-raising event has grown over the years in prestige, popularity and importance, and is looked forward to each year by all friends of the school. All proceeds from this event go directly into the school's development fund.

RCA: How would you like to see alumni and any others interested support the school?

C '83: The Old Achimotan Association (OAA), friends of Achimota and the Parent Teacher Association strive continuously to provide additional support to the School in various ways, including raising funds for its continued maintenance and development.

The school's motto, "ut omnes unum sint" in Latin, translates to "that all may be one". By living up to the theme and ideals of our motto, the alumni and other benevolent organisations are collectively helping to maintain the prestigious status of the school.

There are several projects that have been taken up by various year groups or individuals to help with the most urgently needed aspects of development within the school. We would like to encourage more individual participation not only with fund raising but also with efforts aimed at developing the great culture and ethos of the school.

RCA: How is the fundraising drive by the Class of '83 feeding into other fundraising initiatives taking place for the school?

C '83: The Class of '83 has recently been involved in organising the Bonfire Night which is held annually. This is a fun-filled event open to all, which coincides with the Founder's day celebration to honour the three founders of the school, Sir Gordon Guggisberg, Kwegir Aggrey and Alex Fraser.

At present, we are actively involved in the building of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre in the school, a project which we started a couple of years ago and hope to complete by the end this year.

This project ties in with all the other projects being carried out by various benefactors and forms part of the overall strategy of building and maintaining this first class educational establishment.

RCA: How can readers contact the dinner dance organizers and book a place?

C '83: That's an easy one. Just tap into www.oaa83.com or contact our secretary, Pauline Brobbey on +44(0)7877 820 530. Hope to see you there!!