Covenant Presbyterian School, Dzorwulu, on Friday held its 19th Graduation Ceremony with a call on parents, educators, the Church and government to collaborate in nurturing children into disciplined, responsible and ethical leaders.
The event, held on the school’s premises in Accra, was on the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” and celebrated the graduation of 56 students comprising 28 Kindergarten pupils and 28 Junior High School (JHS) students.
Rev. Kingsley Asare Addo, Dzorwulu District Minister and Minister-in-Charge of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, who delivered the keynote address, said leadership required deliberate investment in the development of children through discipline, service, moral formation and quality education.
He said leadership was cultivated rather than inherited and urged stakeholders to intentionally prepare children to assume leadership responsibilities in future.
“Leadership is the ability to influence, motivate and guide others towards achieving a shared goal. Those who aspire to become leaders tomorrow must be consistently groomed today. You must learn to serve before you can lead,” he said.
Rev. Addo urged parents to recognise the home as the first place of learning by instilling discipline, assigning responsibilities, supervising academic work and encouraging resilience among children.
He said excellence could only be achieved through hard work, perseverance, determination and God’s guidance.
Rev. Addo said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana remained committed to quality education through its support for more than 2,000 basic schools, 34 senior high schools, five vocational institutions, five colleges of education and two universities across the country.
He urged the graduates to uphold the values of integrity, humility, discipline and excellence wherever they found themselves.
Mrs. Evelyn A. Antwi Amoamah, Headteacher of Covenant Presbyterian School, said the graduation marked another milestone in the school’s commitment to academic excellence and character development.
She said the school had graduated 28 Kindergarten pupils into the primary level and 28 JHS students who had completed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Mrs. Amoamah said the school was committed to equipping learners with values such as discipline, integrity, humility, hard work and perseverance alongside academic excellence.
Quoting the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she said: “Intelligence plus character—that is the true goal of education.”
She encouraged the graduates to remain focused and continue striving for excellence as they advanced to the next stage of their education.
Mrs. Nana Pokuwa Owusu-Fianko, Chairperson of the ceremony, urged the graduates to embrace servant leadership and uphold integrity, courage, compassion and service in their lives.
She commended parents for their sacrifices and teachers for their commitment to nurturing the students.
“We are not only celebrating graduates today; we are celebrating future innovators, decision-makers, problem-solvers and nation builders,” she said.
Ms. Sarah Nhyira Danquah, the outgoing School Prefect, expressed appreciation to the management, teaching and non-teaching staff for their guidance and support throughout her years at the school.
She said serving as school prefect had taught her discipline, responsibility and teamwork.
Ms. Danquah also highlighted initiatives undertaken during her tenure, including the introduction of a suggestion box, donation of books to the school library and support for the revitalisation of the school’s football team.
As part of the ceremony, the school honoured outstanding students for academic excellence.
Ms. Sarah Nhyira Danquah was adjudged the Overall Best Student for Basic Nine.
Other award recipients were Mandor K. Philips Jnr, Rhule Emily Nhyira and Aryeetey Uriel Prince Boateng for Basic Eight; Danquah Charles Nkunim, Rhule Justice Ayeyi and Darke Selinam Charis for Basic Seven; and Brown Christopher Kpakpo Alphonso, Nkrumah Kira Akesi and Ackom Alvin Opoku for Basic Six.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of certificates and Bibles to graduating students, poetry recitals, spoken word performances in Twi and English, Taekwondo demonstrations, dance performances, a French talk show and choreography by Kindergarten Two pupils.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Owusu-Fianko said preparing future leaders required the collective efforts of parents, schools and communities.
She urged the graduates to remain disciplined, pursue lifelong learning and uphold the values they had acquired throughout their education.
Source: Joseph Wemakor
