GHANASSBeacon of the East

Our story since 1943

From 16 boys to the Beacon of the East

Over eight decades, GHANASS has grown from a small private initiative into one of Ghana's premier public boarding institutions: a story of resilience, mergers, three homes and a name given at independence.

  1. 1943

    Phoenix College

    The Genesis

    • Founded by two visionary educators, Mr. Fred Addae (Headmaster) and Mr. Francis Adjei Tetebo (Principal), as a private, male-only school.
    • Classes began in a temporary private building with an initial enrollment of just 16 boys.
    • Following the untimely passing of co-founder Mr. Fred Addae, Mr. Francis Adjei Tetebo stepped up as sole principal, steering the young school through its early struggles.

  2. 1950

    Christ College

    Growth and Relocation

    • The student population outgrew its temporary home, and the founders moved the school to new premises within Koforidua. That site is today the Normal Technical Institute.
    • To mark the expansion, the name was changed from Phoenix College to Christ College.
    • During this formative era, Christ College merged with another local college, combining resources to build a stronger foundation for secondary education in the Eastern Region.

  3. 1950s

    Effiduase

    The Move to Effiduase

    • With the population still climbing, the school moved again, this time to Effiduase, a suburb of Koforidua.
    • It first occupied the buildings now used as the Effiduase Police Quarters, before settling on its permanent campus.
    • The relocation was made possible by Nana Frempong Mposo II (Chief of Effiduase at the time), Rev. Dr. Nimako (first Member of Parliament for New Juaben) and Mr. W.T. Wutor (a local building contractor).

  4. 1957

    Ghana Secondary School

    Dawn of a New Era

    • In the year of independence, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, visited Koforidua and requested that Christ College be renamed Ghana Secondary School.
    • The new name brought the school in line with other premier state schools such as Ghana National College, Cape Coast, and Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), Takoradi.
    • The school was absorbed into the public education system. Mr. Daniel Ofori Dankwa, a distinguished science teacher from Accra Academy, became the first public headmaster.
    • That same year the school held its first Speech and Prize-Giving Day, with 100 boys and 6 girls, served by a dedicated staff of six. The admission of girls began its co-educational journey.

  5. Today

    Ghana Senior High School

    Modern Status and Legacy

    • Now Ghana Senior High School, still proudly known as GHANASS, on a 1,100-acre, garden-style residential campus in Effiduase.
    • A co-educational, non-denominational Christian boarding school with over 2,300 students and roughly 170 teaching staff.
    • Led since 2023 by Headmistress Ms. Diana Mintah.

The builders of GHANASS

  • Mr. Fred Addae

    Co-founder & first Headmaster, Phoenix College

  • Mr. Francis Adjei Tetebo

    Co-founder & Principal

  • Nana Frempong Mposo II

    Chief of Effiduase

  • Rev. Dr. Nimako

    First MP for New Juaben

  • Mr. W.T. Wutor

    Building contractor

  • Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

    Renamed the school in 1957

  • Mr. Daniel Ofori Dankwa

    First public Headmaster

  • Ms. Diana Mintah

    Headmistress since 2023

The Beacon gate of Ghana Senior High School

GHANASS at a glance

Motto
Pro Patria (“For Our Fatherland”)
Slogan
Beacon! Shine!
Anthem
“We're the Beacon from the East of Ghana”
Colours
Green and yellow
Campus
1,100 acres, Effiduase, Koforidua
Type
Co-educational, non-denominational Christian boarding school
Programmes
General Science, General Arts, Business, Home Economics, Visual Arts, Agricultural Science