News
A 25-year promise kept: Aurora Commodore-Toppar unveils legacy court at Aburi Girls’ Senior High School
Aburi Girls’ Senior High School at the weekend became beneficiary of a new state-of-the-art multi-purpose basketball court, handed over by an alumna from the “Millennium Beacons” class of 2000 and current Treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBF), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar.
Madam Commodore-Toppar conceived the idea which is now known as the “Aurora Legacy Project,” shortly before completing the school.
The handover ceremony, filled with emotion, saw Madam Commodore-Toppar supported by her father, Mr Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, a former Board Chairman of Hearts of Oak, executives of the Aburi Girls’ Old Girls Association (AOGA) 2000 year group, led by Madam Akua Boahemah Owusu Sekyere, the school’s former headmistress, Mrs Alice Prempeh-Fordjour, and members of the Radiant Way Baptist Church, all celebrating a dream born from a moment of vulnerability.
The arena is situated on the school’s Upper Court and boasts modern features like fiberglass backboards, breakaway rims, and durable acrylic coatings, making it suitable for various sports including volleyball, tennis, badminton, and handball, ensuring a safe and long-lasting surface for generations of Aburi Girls to enjoy.
Madam Commodore-Toppar, the captain of the school’s championship-winning basketball team in the year 2000, recounted emotionally that she made the life-altering promise when she faced a period of intense illness while preparing for her final exams on the staircase leading to the school’s Lower Court.
“The dream was born in 2000 when I was about to write my final exams and kept falling ill. So, on the staircase leading to the Lower Court, I stood and made a pledge to God that He should see me successfully through the exams, and after that, I would honour Him with a personal pledge,” she stated.
Moreover, she announced the initiation of a Phase Two of the project, which will include the installation of tiered bleacher seats for players and spectators, to solidify the court as a truly complete, modern facility.
By Raymond Ackumey
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine has broken ground on a modern 1,500-seater multipurpose assembly hall and a secured main gatehouse for New Edubiase Senior High School, in the Adansi South District.
The project, being executed by local contractor AA Engineering and Construction, is expected to be completed within 17 months and forms part of the Mine’s 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) — a strategic framework for delivering sustainable development in its host communities.
Beyond the expansive assembly hall, the facility will house a fully integrated administrative complex featuring a dedicated sound room, a 16-seater staff eatery, and suites for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster, a bursar’s office, an 18-seater conference room, a 24-seater staff common room, six faculty office spaces and ancillary stores and washrooms.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mine’s Director of Sustainability Management, Edmund Oduro Agyei, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in host communities through impactful and sustainable investments.
The Edubiasehene, Guahyia Oduropanin Birikorang, commended the Mine for the investment, saying the project demonstrated that the company’s development agenda extended well beyond its immediate operational areas.
The Headmaster of New Edubiase SHS, Mr Christopher Appiah Mensah, described the intervention as timely and transformative, noting it would address longstanding infrastructure deficits, improve conditions for teaching and learning, and create adequate space for academic and social gatherings.
“This will greatly enhance administrative efficiency and improve the overall welfare of both staff and students,” he said.
The facility is also expected to boost the school’s capacity to host national examinations and major events, and strengthen its standing as a centre of academic excellence within the district.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children.
Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country.
Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion.
In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year.
In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment.
In a release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 
She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost.
Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country.
More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years.
“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained.
“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.”
“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.”
The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” -GNA
