Adisadel College: History, Programmes and More

This article is about Adisadel College, one of the well-known SHS in Ghana. In this write-up, we share with you very useful information including history, Programmes offered in the school, and many more.
Adisadel College: History, Programmes and More
Introduction
Adisadel College, popularly known as “ADISCO”, is an Anglican boys’ boarding school in Cape Coast, Ghana. Adisadel College is one of the oldest senior high schools in Africa, and was ranked 10th out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003, based on quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility. The sister school of Adisco is Mfantiman Girls SHS.
Historic Statistics and Data of Adisadel College
History About Adisadel College
Adisco was established in 1910 in a building at Topp Yard, near Christ Church School which is within the vicinity of Cape Coast Castle. It began with 29 boys, but by 1935, it had expanded to accommodate about 200 pupils. The school buildings were extended in 1950 by Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew. Student enrolment stood at 545, at the time of the school’s Golden Jubilee in 1960. There were over 1500 boarding students and 93 teachers when the school celebrated its centenary anniversary in 2010.
The school’s original founder was the Rt. Rev. Nathaniel Temple Hamlyn, a missionary who was then Anglican Bishop of Accra between 1908 and 1910. Hamlyn’s ambition was to establish a grammar school to educate the sons of Anglicans in the colony, and also create an educational institution which will serve as a training ground for the clergy.
Adisco is the second-oldest secondary school in Ghana after Mfantsipim School, an arch rival which was established by the Methodist Church in 1876. Adisco is also one of the most famous institutions of learning in sub-Saharan Africa.
Adisadel College: History, Programmes and More: How Many Houses Are In Adisadel College?
The school currently has ten houses named as follows:
- Hamlyn
- Quaque
- Elliot
- Canterbury
- Knight
- Aglionby
- Ebiradze
- Jubilee
- Thomas Jonah
- Le Maire
Programmes offered at Adisadel College
- Business
- Visual Art
- General Art
- General Science
Adisadel College Achievements
Adisadel College was the first secondary school in the history of Ghana to design special cloaks for its prefects: red for the head prefect, blue for the other prefects, and green for the assistants. That tradition still persists till this day. Also, the school is a multiple winner of the National Science and Maths Quiz title. The school has also bagged many awards in several academia competition. They also have some achievement in the field of sports.
Adisadel College Notable Alumni
- Head of State: Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa
- Scientists: Ave Kludze, Thomas Mensah, Nii Quaynor
- Speakers of Parliament: Rt.Hon Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph, Rt.Hon Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes
- Chief Justices: Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Justice Philip Edward Archer, Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu and Justice Robert John Hayfron-Benjamin(Botswana)
- Supreme Court judges: Justice Koi Larbi, Justice Henry K. Prempeh, Justice Charles Hayfron-Benjamin and Justice Anselmus Kludze
- Attorney-Generals of Ghana: Edward Nathaniel Moore, Godfred Yeboah Dame
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Who founded Adisadel College?
The school’s original founder was the Rt. Rev. Nathaniel Temple Hamlyn, a missionary who was then Anglican Bishop of Accra between 1908 and 1910.
Adisadel College Address
P. O. Box 83
Adisadel Village
Central Region
Cape Coast, Central Region, P.O. Box 83, 00233 Cape Coast
Ghana
Adisadel College Uniform
The school uniform is black and white striped shirt and black shorts, which directly reflects the primary colours of the college. The distinctive colour combination is colloquially referred to as “zebra”, due to its semblance to the stripes of that animal species. Unsurprisingly, the distinctive outfit has earned Adisco students the nickname of “zebra boys”. Prior to the introduction of this style of uniform in the 1990s, students of the old Form One to Form Five stream wore blue shirts and brown khaki shorts, whiles those in Sixth Form wore white shirts and brown shorts. This school was the first secondary school in the history of Ghana to design special cloaks for its prefects: red for the head prefect, blue for the other prefects, and green for the assistants tradition still persists till this day.
Is Adisadel College An A School?
Yes, it is a category A school.