“Here in Prempeh College, we have an example of what can be done when the Government, the Native Authorities and the Missions really cooperate.”
On Saturday, February 5, 1949, Prempeh College was officially opened in Kumasi for the purpose of citizenship education and nation building – Amanfoɔ.
The first batch of students had arrived two days earlier on Thursday, February 3. It was not until February 28 that the last of the first 50 boys joined his colleagues to begin their studies and apprenticeship.
Named after Prempeh, the exiled and returned King of Asante and his successor simultaneously, the Asantehene Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh II was present to outdoor the school named after him.
Present also were; C. O. Butler, Chief Commissioner of Ashanti, Rev. M. B. Taylor, Chairman of Methodist Church of the Gold Coast, Mr. C. T. Eddy, Acting Principal of Mfantsipim School, Mr. L. A. Creedy, Principal of Komenda Training College among others.
Rev. S. N. Pearson first headmaster and former tutor at Wesley College as well as Mfantsipim pointed out that: “Here in Prempeh College, we have an example of what can be done when the Government, the Native Authorities and the Missions really cooperate.”
The original motto of the school is “Ɔman pa fapem ne ɔbra pa” to wit, the foundation of a good State is good conduct. Happy Birthday, Prempeh College. May you live long to produce a lot of the H.E. Snr. President J. A. Kufuor(s).
Later the motto became “Suban ne Nimdee” to wit – “Character and Knowledge”
Writer: Snr Dr James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr
