Torgbi Vedzesu Nii Kpambi V, Divisional Chief of Aflao-Teshie in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region, believes that education is the key to bringing about a swift socio-economic transition.
He said that the governments of technologically and economically sophisticated countries had put considerable resources into their people's education and training, and he urged the government of Ghana to do the same.
Torgbi Vedzesu delivered these remarks on Saturday, during St. Paul's Senior High School and Junior Seminary's (SPACO) 65th anniversary celebration and speech and prize giving day.
Torgbi Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief and President of the Aflao Traditional Council, was unable to attend the event, but an alumnus of the school, Torgbi Vedzesu, chaired the event in his stead. Vedzesu praised the founders of SPACO for their vision, saying that the institution's 65 years of service to the community and the provision of quality secondary education were both achievements to be celebrated.
He lauded the school's present and former administrators, faculty, and other Stakeholders for their commitment to the mission of educating productive citizens who have made and will make lasting contributions to the development of their country.
The division chief encouraged the students to follow in the footsteps of the many influential people who have graduated from SPACO, using their stories as inspiration to forge their own paths towards independence and leadership.
In 1958, Bishop Konings founded the first and only Catholic secondary school in the southern part of the then Keta-Ho Diocese in the Volta Region, now known as St. Paul's Senior High School (SPACO).
Founders of the school included the first headmaster, Rev. Fr. J. Caffrey, and the co-administrator, Rev. Fr. Seemers.
Senior High School and Junior Seminary of St. Paul (SPACO).
Established in Three-Town, the crossroads of the towns of Denu, Hedzranawo, and Adafienu, St. Paul's Senior High School and Junior Seminary (SPACO) was originally a secondary school for boys.
Due to a lack of available land for the school's expansion, the administration looked for a new location and settled on its current site in Hatsukope in the Aflao Traditional Area, along the Denu-Ho road.
To better serve the educational needs of the Volta Region's female population, the school became coeducational in the year 2000. The school reverted back to being an all-boys institution after the first class graduated.
The property on which the school now stands and will continue to grow was gifted to the Catholic Church by Chief Torgbui Passaku and his elders.
In 1972, the government purchased additional land, increasing the campus's size to 100 acres.
St. Paul's has grown from its humble beginnings with just 26 pupils to its current enrollment of 1,145 across its 848 boarding students, 296 day students, and 144 total staff members (both teaching and non-teaching).
Celebrating 65 years, the event focused on "Improving access and quality senior high education; the role of stakeholders."