Accra Girls Senior High School is a single-sex School that provides quality secondary education to girls. It is located in the Ayawaso North Municipality of the Greater AccraRegion. It was established in 1960, a period of self-governing administration as part of President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Education Trust schools. The school, among others, was established to cater for girls. There were only a few schools at the time and as a result few educated people in the country, a situation which did not auger well for development. The government saw the need to expand education to produce people who would lead meaningful lives as well as serve the manpower needs of the nation that would help in development. The Government therefore introduced the Accelerated Development Plan of Education, by way of increasing the infrastructure of the Government Schools. To achieve this aim, the Ghana Educational Trust Fund was established. Monies that accrued from the sale of cocoa were lodged in the Trust Fund and were used to establish several Primary and Secondary Schools, one of which was Accra Girls Secondary School.

The school opened officially for business on 30th September 1960 with a student population of 12 on the first day. This increased to 42 and ended at 75 students by the end of October, in the same year. The staff strength then was five female teachers headed by Mrs. Blanche Gibson, an expatriate being the first Headmistress. By that time, the school was making steady progress and by the time the school attained 40 years in the year 2000, enrolment had increased to nine hundred and fifty-five (955).

The school recorded one thousand seven hundred and eight (1,708) students after the school attained sixty years of existence in 2021. From a humble beginning of twelve (12) students in 1960, Accra Girls Senior High School can confidently boast of admitting two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five (2725) at the age of 63 years of fruitful existence in 2023. The school has currently about three thousand students being boarders constituting 80% of the total population and 20% of Day students. The teaching staff strength of five (5) in 1960 is now one hundred and fifty-five after sixty-three (63) years.

The site selected for the school used to be a Military Camp for the West African Fortier force recruits hence a Military zone. At the beginning, there was a story building, a white house which served both as a classroom and a dormitory, a Dining Hall and three Bungalows. By the end of the third year, additional buildings had been built. The houses, which originally bore the names of colours i.e., white, pink and green were renamed after former Headmistresses in 1985. Now, it is only the pink house that still bears its original name. The other two are now Buckman and Gibson houses. Currently, there are five houses namely: Buckman, Gibson, Aryeh, pink 1 and 2.

Slogan: Ladies with Vision and Virtue

The Accra Girls’ Senior High School (AGSHS) logo is a symbol of an Eagle with a Pen standing on an opened Book with the Motto “Aim High”. An indication that the girls are to be studious, keen and enduring. The girls are expected to soar higher like the eagle in the acquisition of knowledge. The motto of the school is “Aim High”. By this, the school is telling the girls that, to others, the sky is the limit but to them, the sky is the beginning. The opened Book symbolises that education is for all Girls in the Ghanaian Community. The Eagle with the Pen in the mouth means the Girl-Chid should soar high in the academic field and life, hence the Motto “Aim High!

Eagles fly alone at high altitudes. Stay away from narrow-minded people. Keep good company—because the people you associate with will eventually have an impact on who you become. In the Bible, it is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that, “Bad company corrupts good morals”. The interpretation of that verse is simple; you become like those you associate with.

Eagles have enviably very keen vision. No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until it captures it. Have a vision and remain focused. One of the ways to enhance the vision is to clear all distractions in your mind and reflect on this: If there were no obstacles in front of me, I would chase …? Do not let the past hold you back nor the present keep you paralyzed but press forward to the unlimited possibilities of the future. Check the saying: “Let the past comfort you, the present prepare you, and the future unleash possibilities”.

Eagles are fearless and never relent, no matter the size or strength of their prey. No matter what the size of the problem confronting you—do not give up. Instead, face it. Successful people are fearless! They face problems head-on. The fear of failure and the opinion of others are two of the greatest fears a leader must overcome. Being afraid of failing is not the goal; it is the process of being successful. Eagles are tenacious. They love storms. They use the strong winds of the storm to lift themselves higher and higher to glide and thereby to rest. Achievers are not afraid of challenges! They use them to look for opportunities and do not get bogged down in the problem. Determination is being persistent, focused and going beyond the limitations you thought you could not pass.

Eagles never eat dead things. This is kind of gross but the lesson is not. Do not rely on past success—keep looking for new frontiers/opportunities to conquer.

Eagles prepare for training. People who are used to moving fast and flying high are easily frustrated by people who want to hold them back. Always challenge your peopleor staff to get out of their comfort zones but never out of their strength zones.

Eagles possess vitality. We need to occasionally shed off old habits of things that burden us and add no value to our lives. Discover a person’s passion, hopes, and dreams, and then help them reposition so that they work according to their strengths. Show them how they contribute to the organization. This will produce the needed vitality and sustain the energy not only for the person but for the team and the organization.

Eagles also possess two main things that make them the kings of the sky, they possess extreme cleverness and perseverance for which reasons, no other animal can prey on them. This tells us that persevering is not good enough but to persevere with wisdom and adaptability. The whole essence symbolises the need to learn and blend both the academic (open book) with personal development (the eagle) to author your destiny in the right way (the pen) success shall be assured. Aim High!!!

The pioneering students were taught Arts subjects mainly; French, History, Geography, English Language, Literature, Music and Mathematics. Science was later added and the students went to Achimota for Science lessons due to lack of equipment. In the 1970’s, Business subjects were introduced into the curriculum. The students were prepared for five years to take the West African School Certificate and later General Certificate Education, Ordinary Level Examination. Since the school had no sixth-form, those who did well had to go to other sixth form schools to pursue the course. However, in 1986, the administration requested the Ghana Education Service to run the Sixth form courses. Conditions were given for which the school had to satisfy. Among them were good facilities and equally remarkable academic results. In 1987, a team of officials from the Headquarters of the Ghana Education Service inspected the school and readily granted the establishment of the Sixth-Form department. The Sixth-Form department was officially opened in September, 1989 with twenty-four female students. It was purely an ARTS class offering Geography, Economics, Religious Studies, History, Government, Literature-In-English and General ‘Paper. Over time the intake was

increased to forty-eight with students coming from other schools. The General Certificate Examination (Advanced Level) results were quite impressive over the years. Some of the students gained admission into local universities whilst others went outside the country to further their education. It was gratifying to note that many of the past students had already graduated at the time and were in various professions. One of such students, Ms. Elizabeth Akyeampong was adjudged the best student in the Ghana School of Law in 1998.

The school was running three (3) programmes: General Arts, Business and Vocational which comprised all the subjects that were taught at the initial stages. The duration of the course, however, is three (3) years at the end of which students are rewarded the Senior Secondary School Certificate. Currently, the school runs five (5) programmes namely:

1. General Science
2. General Arts
3. Business
4. Home Economics
5. Visual Arts

The first Headmistress when the school was established was an expatriate by the name, Mrs. Blanche Gibson. Mrs. Blanche Gibson left the school at the end of the first year and Mrs. Barbara Oddoye and Marjorie Bulley in succession took over the management of the school for the second year. In 1962, Mrs. Gloria Aryee became the Headmistress. She was succeeded in 1979 by Mrs. Beatrice Sey, who acted for three (3) years. Mrs. Kate Cobbinah became Headmistress in 1981 and she was succeeded by Ms. Bertha Clottey in 1995. Then came Ms. Veronica Akapame, who worked with Mrs. Kate Kobbinah as the Assistant Head Academic before becoming the Headmistress in 2002 and retired in 2016 as the longest-serving Headmistress in the history of Accra Girls Senior High School. She was succeeded by Mrs. Joyce Sah Acolatse in September, 2016. Mrs. Joyce S. Acolatse proceeded on compulsory retirement in August 2020 and since then, Mrs. Gifty Andoh, has been the 10th and the current Chief Servant of this great institution where virtuous ladies with vision are nurtured.

On the GES rating, Accra Girls SHS is in the category of Grade ‘A’ schools. This is because the school, since its inception, has produced students with quality passes who find their way into tertiary institutions all over the country and outside. Also, most of the teaching staff are qualified to meet this rating. Through effective management and leadership over the years, the school has gradually gained recognition and was adjudged the best Senior High school in the Greater Accra Region in the 2019 academic year.

Every community rejoices when its trees begin to produce fruits. this is the joy of every academic institution. Accra Girls Senior High School has been a beacon of excellence for over six decades. The success chalked by the school is numerous. On average, over the years, the school has had over 80% of its products coming out with very good grades at the WASSCE. About 60% of this number end up in tertiary institutions all over the country. Currently, the school can boast of over ten (10) past students in medical schools across the country. This number has to do with those who have reported their progress to the school. In the humanities, the school can boast of its products spread all over the country’s tertiary institutions and beyond. The school has produced numerous human resources for the nation and the world at large. The Dean of the Business School of the Central University is a proud product of the school. She is currently the president of the Old Girls’ Association. The chairperson of the Board of Governors is a product of this school. In the media across the country, products of this school can be found. Mention can be made of Cornelia Amoah and Soyokuor Kwaku Kyere both of GBC/GTV, the CEO of TV3 Beatrice Agyemang, and Ms Lankai of Citi Radio and TV to mention but a few. Products of the school are not counted out when it comes to the judiciary. Her Ladyship Justice Okai, Nhyira Boamponsem, Naziya Amin Gombila, the valedictorian 2022 at the UPSA and Christine Selikem Lassey are names that readily avail themselves in that field. In entertainment and sports, products of the school are making enrolls all over the country and outside. Alice Anum (Original Baby Jet) and Mercy Aganapo are the names of our products in the sports arena. Naa Dedei Botchway, the winner of 2020 Ghana Most Beautiful for 2020 is an old student.

The performance of the students in co-curricular activities is gradually outstanding. Tracy Ampah was a gold medalist at the National Ladies’ challengers series in Lawn Tennis. The school swept all the trophies at the recently held inter-school games and placed third at the athletics. The school has a Regimental Band which performed at the Ayawaso North Municipality Independence Day Celebration less than a year after its formation. The Robotics Team won two National awards at the 2021 National Robotics Competition. In the areas of Poetry and Drama, the school has printed its footprints

boldly. From a humble beginning of twelve (12) students and five teachers in 1960, Accra Girls Senior High School can confidently boast of three thousand and thirty-nine (3,039) students, one hundred and fifty-nine (159) teaching staff and forty-eight (48) non-teaching staff after six decades.

Ebenezer …!

All glory to God!!