EDUCATION MINISTER TO CONSIDER BOARDING STATUS FOR ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SHS
The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government will assess St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, Cantonments, to determine whether the school can be granted boarding status.
The announcement was made on October 2, 2026, at Christ the King Hall, Cantonments, Accra, during the launch of the school’s 75th anniversary celebrations and fundraising campaign.
The request for boarding status was made by the Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Dr. George Obeng Appah, and the President of the Old Toms, Mr. Frederick Nii Noi Dowuona (OT 99). They appealed to the government to consider supporting the school with boarding facilities to enhance its capacity to serve students.
Responding to the request, the Minister said St. Thomas Aquinas was a special case and announced that he would visit the school in the first week of November 2026. He explained that the exercise would focus particularly on the availability of land and the school’s capacity to provide the infrastructure required for boarding facilities.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu said he would engage President John Dramani Mahama on the request. He explained that the President had encouraged the establishment and expansion of boarding facilities mainly in rural and peri-urban communities, while urban schools would generally continue to operate as day institutions.
However, the Minister said St. Thomas Aquinas could be considered differently because of its long-standing contribution to education and its place among Ghana’s established second-cycle institutions. He said the physical assessment would be critical because boarding status would require adequate space for dormitories and other essential facilities, including an assembly hall. The availability of suitable land within the Cantonments premises would therefore be an important consideration.
The Minister indicated that if the school meets the necessary physical requirements, government would consider granting it boarding status as part of its support for the institution during its 75th anniversary year.
Hon. Haruna Iddrisu also spoke about the need to strengthen discipline in Ghana’s educational institutions and society. He said the government was putting together a committee to address the growing problem of indiscipline, particularly in secondary schools. He announced that the committee would be chaired by the Bishop of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa-Agyekum, with the Catholic Church taking an important role in the national effort. Representatives of other religious bodies, including Sheikh Osman, as well as civil society representatives, would also be involved in the initiative.
According to the Minister, bringing the various religious bodies together would help promote a common national response to indiscipline and encourage young people to develop stronger values and responsible attitudes. He said the values of integrity and discipline, which form part of the theme for the 75th anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas, must remain central to the education of its students. He challenged the students to demonstrate these values not only in school but also in their future careers and service to Ghana.
The Minister stressed that education should go beyond the acquisition of certificates, saying young people must be prepared to become disciplined, responsible and useful members of society. The proposed boarding status, if approved after the assessment, would represent a major development in the history of St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School and could enable the institution to accommodate students from communities outside Accra.
The school now awaits the Minister’s November assessment, which could determine whether its long-standing request for boarding facilities will become a reality.
Story by:
Thelma N.E. Impraim -Holm
Depsocom Accra
