Past students of St. Augustine's College have been praised by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Reverend Matthias Nketsiah, for their tireless work in enhancing the college's infrastructure and culminating in the creation of a 724-page reference book.
Archbishop Nketsiah, who is also the Patron of the College, praised the book as a magnificent encyclopaedia on Catholic education in Ghana and a thorough reference book on the College, speaking at the introduction of the College's reference book and almanac.
He urged other stakeholders to assist in these efforts to guarantee that students admitted to St. Augustine's College received the best education possible, as envisioned by the college's founders.
Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman (APSU 1961), Chairman of the Board of the Ghana Cocoa Board, unveiled the book during the occasion, saying that a lack of information had led to the neglect of sacrifices made by important former students.
He expressed the hope that the publishing of the College's reference book will allow not only past students, but also incoming students and their parents, to be fully informed of the College's founding objectives.
Mr. Owusu-Agyeman urged all former students, students, faculty, and staff, as well as Catholics around the country, to get a copy of the book. Earlier in his speech, the program's Chairman, Dr. Papa Kwasi Nduom, an old student, recounted how the publishing of the St. Augustine's College reference book came as a big relief to many of the past students.
Dr. Nduom, the President of Groupe Nduom, stated that receiving an education at St. Augustine's College could only be considered a luxury that should be appreciated.
He praised the Almanac Compilation Team for its sacrifices in guaranteeing timeliness and commended the previous students union (APSU) for taking on such a large endeavor.
In welcoming members, APSU President Dr. Ernest Anthony Osei expressed great anticipation that the book project will provide students with a unique opportunity to impart the spirit behind the College's type of education.
The Leader of the Almanac Compilation Team, Eric Atta-Sonno, explained to the assembled guests that in the absence of a major reference point, the team had to rely on Catholic newspapers and magazines from the Gold Coast era, journals published by the Society of African Missions in Ireland, interviews with past Headmasters, Senior Prefects, past academic staff, and other sources.
He went on to say that the book was meant to be a living document, and he urged members to participate in subsequent evaluations by offering comments and suggestions that would help to improve the book.
Nana Awere Damoah provided a thorough assessment of the book.
Hundreds of APSUnians from various decades, from the 1950s to the present, attended the occasion. Amb. Kabral Blay-Amihere, Prof. George Hagan, Ing. Dr. Robert Adjaye, Michael Kenneth Nsowah (Chairman of the Ghana Education Service Council), Samuel Seddoh (Headmaster from 1969 to 1976), and Sammy Awuku were among those who were honored (NPP National Youth Organizer),.
Prof. C.N.B. Tagoe, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Jude Kofi Bucknor, a business executive and member of the Board of Governors, and Dr. Kwaku Ansa-Asare are among the others (Founding President of Mountcrest University).
Ben Nunoo-Mensah (President of the Ghana Olympic Committee), Hon. (Ing.) Kwadwo Aboagye (Member of Parliament for Biakoye), Lawyer Peter Zwennes (President of the Ghana Boxing Authority), Kojo Aduhene (Chief Executive of LMI Holdings), Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, and Nana Asaase are the remaining members.
The Rev. Fr. John Hamilton (Chairman of the College Board of Governors), Joseph Connel (Headmaster), Rev. Fr. Patrick Appiah (College Chaplain), Kwadwo Owusu (Senior House Master), some academic staff, Emmanuel Idun (Senior Prefect), and a select group of the College's Philharmonic Choir were among those who attended the ceremony.