Miss Ashitey, as she was popularly known, arrived at Ebenezer (Padua) in 1976. The then Headmaster, who later headed Accra Academy, is the famous retired educationist, Mr. Vincent Birch Freeman.
Ebenezer (Padua) was transitioning from a boys’ only to a co-educational school, having admitted its first set of girls in September, 1976. The school, then at Mamprobi, had a rather small compound that lent a homely feel to life within. There were some impressive teachers, some of whom had been in the school for up to two decades. They had formed a close-knit family not commonly seen in Ghanaian schools. And there was the heady batch of adolescent boys, ready to learn, but even more eager to play pranks. This was the mix Miss Ashitey was ushered into, … and distinguished herself!
The patron and inspirer of this Padua Family was Mr Freeman himself. Among the greatest teachers were the colourful Mr Emmanuel Okine (Ataa Okai/Tsoolo), perhaps the most famous Sports Master in Ghana from the ’50s to the late ’70s. He was humour itself! Others were Messrs E.A. Boateng (Boat), History; Edwin Kusogbor, Latin and English Literature; A. Essuman, Physics and A. Janadharna (from Sri Lanka), Maths. The dedicated female team included mesdames Margaret Atter, Biology; Anna Nyasunu, Science; Elizabeth Esantsi, Maths; M. Benneh, Bible Knowledge; Sarah Hagan, Geography, and Rebecca Anku (English).
Amarchoe, a soft-spoken and humorous soul, captivated her students in the junior classes (Forms 1-3) in English Literature. This was significant, because the subject was compulsory in the school in those days. Her students later eased into Shakespeare, Chaucer, Achebe, etc. with much gratitude to her.
It’s worth noting that after her brief sojourn in Nigeria, Miss Ashitey opted to return to Padua. Such was the magnetism! Mrs Nancy Thompson was the new Head, and she was to move thereafter to head Wesley Girls’ Secondary School. Mrs Thompson helped maintain the camaraderie and the teaching and learning quality remained high. Amarchoe was entranced enough to commit four more years of her life at Padua, before finally leaving for the University of Ghana, Legon.
We, the Padua Family (Old Students, Past Teachers, Administrators, and Current Staff and Students) are grateful to the Almighty for a godly, committed teacher like Amarchoe. We were happy to learn that in retirement, she took to writing a series of popular Children’s Storybooks. We would daresay that many of the characters in her books would echo activities in the Padua classroom and school yard.
Fare thee well, Auntie Amarchoe. You were a great blessing to us at Padua; and we believe, many other more.
Yaawo ojogbann, Anyemi, ye Nuntso le kpokoian.
Written by Odartey Osron Mills (1973 Year Group)