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Accra Girls’ former staff honour former Headmistress
• 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
The state has closed its case in the Republic v Akonta Mining and two others.
The case was heard earlier today at the Accra Criminal Court, where state prosecutors and CID investigators from the Ghana Police Service closed the Republic’s case.
In all, the prosecution called three witnesses to prove its case, two former employees of Akonta Mining Company Limited and a detective from the Ghana Police Service.
According to an update on the case, the two former employees testified to Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako’s deep involvement in Akonta Mining Company’s alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The police detective tendered in evidence drone footage and other audio-visual materials and official communications in support of the testimonies of the two former Akonta Mining employees.
The accused persons, through cross-examination of the witnesses, sought to dissociate themselves from every mining activity in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, counsel for the accused persons asked the court to allow him to call the first prosecution witness back into the witness box for further cross-examination.
The court gave him up to Friday, October 30, to file a formal motion to recall the witnesses.
The case has been adjourned to November 4 for the motion to be heard.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called on the government and Parliament to undertake major reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including the construction of a dedicated prison hospital and the introduction of regulated conjugal visits.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah shared Chairman Wontumi’s observations and recommendations following his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi’s experience in prison has given him the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service.
The statement noted that the NPP chairman believes the correctional system must move beyond punishment to focus on rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.
One of his major concerns is the lack of dedicated, well-equipped prison hospitals, ambulances and standby generators in several prison facilities.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had raised concerns about the difficulties in providing medical care to seriously ill inmates, including those suffering from tuberculosis.
He is therefore calling for the construction of a modern prison hospital to serve facilities across the country. In the interim, he has proposed emergency arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
On the welfare of prison officers, Chairman Wontumi has urged the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service.
He has also called for proper classification of inmates, arguing that minor offenders should not be housed alongside armed robbery convicts and that persons facing trial for serious offences, including treason and terrorism, should be appropriately separated from other inmates.
The statement further highlighted concerns about the need for counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi has also called for a clear policy on the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates within the prison system.
On family relationships, he has proposed the creation of designated private areas where prisoners can receive visits from their spouses and children.
He believes regulated conjugal visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support rehabilitation.
“The prisoner is the one in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement noted, explaining his position on the need to protect family relationships during incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the necessary equipment to improve food production.
According to the statement, the Ghana Prisons Service has access to vast lands and skilled labour but faces a shortage of agricultural equipment, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and garbage-related activities.
He has further proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and the justice sector, suggesting that regional prison commanders should be included in relevant discussions because of their knowledge of prison conditions and inmate rehabilitation.
On infrastructure, Chairman Wontumi has called on the government and private sector to invest in modern prison facilities and factories, arguing that the system has seen limited structural improvements over the years.
Appeal to Parliament
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had made a special appeal to Parliament to lead efforts towards comprehensive prison reform.
He is urging the Speaker of Parliament to initiate discussions on prison conditions as a human rights and national development issue.
He has also called on the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together to pass a new Prison Reform Act and approve funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions firsthand.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi believes bipartisan cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses is necessary to secure the legal and financial reforms required to improve the prison system.
He has called for broader prison reforms across Africa, expressing hope that Ghana could lead the continent in improving correctional facilities.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, Chairman Wontumi stated: “At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana.”
The statement added that Chairman Wontumi remained in high spirits.
By: Jacob Aggrey
