Profile Of Ghanasco, The School Where Toilets Are Used As Dormitories

Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) is a an educational second cycle institution located in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana. Let’s dive into the profile of GHANASCO.

Profile Of Ghanasco, The School Where Toilets Are Used As Dormitories

Originally called Ghana College, the school was established in 1960 by the Government of Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, as one of the Ghana Education Trust Schools. It was started as part of the governments accelerated development plan which sought to provide the needed human resource for the technological and industrial take off of the country.

Originally named Ghana College, it started with seventy students [all male]. The name Ghana College was changed to Ghana secondary school in June 1970. At its inception, the school admitted and prepared students to sit the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations in the Science and Arts programmes. In 1978, the school introduced the sixth form programme which admitted successful G.C.E. Ordinary Level candidates to pursue the Advanced Level programme.

It has a student population of about 2,800, and is the second largest school in the region after Tamale Senior High School (Tamasco). The first headmaster of the school was Kenneth Luther Purser, a Jamaican. Master Abu Kassim Tahidu from Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana was the first senior prefect.

In June 1970, a historic feat was chalked by the school when Mr. Lalaji, a mathematics teacher and his science students invented a rocket. On 22nd June 1970 the rocket was launched in the school with the Minister of Education Mr. William Offori-Attah in attendance.

Main areas

The administration block, the old dining hall, the new larger dining hall/ jams hall, the arts/ PTA block, the science block, the science laboratories including home economics laboratory, the mosque, Nkrumah house, Gbewaa house, Cabral/Gbanzaba house, Dakpema and purser house are boys dormitories. The girls dormitories include; indice 1, indice 2 house, annex 1, annex 2 house and Lordina house, the headmaster’s bungalow and the teachers’ bungalows. The Ghanasco dam is used by surrounding communities including Kukuo and students of Ghana Senior High School.

In 2019, the school beat Armed Forces Senior High School and New Juaben Senior High School in the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz, which qualified them to the quarter finals in 2019.

In June 1970, a historic feat was chalked by the school when Mr. Lalaji, a mathematics teacher and his science students invented a rocket. On 22 June 1970 the rocket was launched in the school with the Minister of Education Mr. William Offori-Attah in attendance.

READ: GES Speaks: There Is No Accommodation Problem In GHANASCO For Headmaster To Turn Toilet Into Dormitories

Notable alumni

1. Joseph Bawa Akamba
2. Yakubu Alhassan
3. Alhassan Andani
4. Moses Asaga
5. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal
6. Hassan Ayariga
7. Mahama Ayariga
8. Kwame Ayew
9. Nayon Bilijo
10. Abdul-Samed Muhamed Gunu
11. John Jinapor
12. John Dramani Mahama
13. Lordina Mahama
14. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed
15. Abedi Pele
16. Alhassan Suhuyini
17. Prof Nafiu (Dean of Students- School of Allied Health Sciences, UDS)