• Mrs Constance Mante, a retiree presenting a gift to Ms Clottey as Ms Diana Agyei, a senior citizen looks on

The Association of Former Staff of Accra Girls’ Senior High School (AFS-AGISS) has hon­oured Ms Bertha Clottey, former Headmistress of AGISS for her dedi­cated service to the school and for being a mother and counsellor to all teachers and administrative staff during her tenure in office.

Ms Clottey, joined the teaching staff of AGISS in 1977 as a History teacher and rose through the posts of Housemistress, Head of History Department, Senior House Mistress, Assistant Headmistress in 1994 and finally held the position of Head­mistress for eight years before she retired in 2002.

For her hard work and outstanding performance, the Association held a lunch in her honour and presented her with gifts at its maiden get-to­gether organised last weekend in Accra.

The get-together, which was full of excitement brought together former staff of AGISS, both teaching and non-teaching, including retirees and those in active service elsewhere.

The Event Organiser, Mr Seth Gadzekpo, a retiree and former staff of both AGISS and Achimota School, explained that “in consultation with a cross-section of members, we found it heartwarming and a rare rejuvena­tion of those past beautiful years we spent together in Accra Girls’ Second­ary School to see one another again on a stage of our own to share happy moments together.”

Addressing the gathering, Ms Clot­tey expressed her profound appreci­ation to the former staff of AGISS for the honour done her.

“You have really given me a real shock. The shock is happiness in excess. You are all part of the success story of AGISS,” she noted.

She urged members of the Associ­ation to keep the unity fervently and show love to all around them.

Earlier, delivering a talk on the theme, ‘Management of life after retirement,’ the guest speaker, Pro­fessor Adelaide Naa Amerley Kast­ner, Dean of the Central University Business School (CUBS) and National President of the Accra Girls Old Stu­dents Association (AGOSA) noted that retirees were custodians of knowl­edge and there was the need to pass that knowledge on to others.

According to Prof. Kastner, who is also the Senior Presbyter at the Faith Congregation of the Presbyte­rian Church of Ghana (PCG), Shiash­ie, being a retiree is not the end of work but a time to identify your new purpose.

“Retirement is a time to channel more energy into doing charity work, be a prayer warrior, engage in hob­bies, read and study, write a book and learn new skills such as weaving, beading or baking to overcome the feeling of loneliness,” she said.

To prevent hypertension, diabetes, stroke, poor eye-sight and dementia among others in order to prolong their lives, she advised the retirees to take good care of themselves and avoid unnecessary stress.

“Be health-conscious, exercise regularly and eat healthy diet. Revive the extended family system and maintain a good circle of friends who will make you laugh,” Prof Kastner advised.

Prof Kastner expressed gratitude to the former staff for their passion, knowledge, wisdom and experience in teaching that have brought AGISS where it is now and urged them not to allow these to go dormant but dialogue with the current staff of AGISS to have a programme together in mentorship and guidance.

“Accra Girls pride itself in being a category ‘A’ school. Others are standing on your shoulders to move the school forward,” she said.

Sharing her impressions about the get-together, Ms Patrolina Pinamang Tuffour, currently a teacher at Chris­tian Methodist High School (CHRIMES­CO) said it was a great reunion of old teachers of AGISS.

“In fact, you could see that everyone present was happy. It was a memorable day. God richly bless all the organisers, especially the one who initiated that idea. I pray God grant all of us long life with good health for more of those,” she added.

For Mr James Abadektemi, a lec­turer at Ghana Communication Tech­nology University (GCTU), ”It was a great reunion, I didn’t regret sacrific­ing other pressing issues to be pres­ent at this maiden reunion. I’m very grateful to the organisers and looking forward to more of such events.”

The Assistant Head (Domestic) at St John’s Grammar School, Ms Alex­ander Mercy Tetteh said, “I came late but the little I saw was impressive. One could feel the spirit of oneness. God bless the organisers.”

In appreciation, one of the organ­isers, Mrs Gifty Anku, former Senior Assistant Registrar at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), now a retiree noted that it was a memorable day and thanked members for their pres­ence and participation asking God’s blessing for all.

Another honouree, Mrs Vida Drap­son, former Assistant Headmistress of AGISS and former Director of Educa­tion could not attend the event due to ill-health.

By Georgina Quaittoo