At the Accra Ridge Church on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) held a Public Lecture as part of its 150th (Sesquicentennial) anniversary celebration of Mfantsipim School as pioneers of secondary education in Ghana. History
This was the second in a series of Lectures, culminating in the 150th Speech Day of the School in November 2026. The first was held in Cape Coast in May 2026.
The lecture, themed “Educating for Peace, Democracy and Responsible Citizenship,” was delivered by veteran International Civil Servant, lawyer, politician, Peace and Conflict Mediator, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas (MOBA 1968).
The Chairman for the lecture was Goosie Tanoh Esq (MOBA 1973), with Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong (Rtd) (MOBA 1970) as the Moderator.
Welcoming the audience, the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, retired Airline Captain Johnny Yamoah (MOBA 1972), said the essence of the lecture was to discuss issues of national importance for development, as Mfantsipim has always aimed at, hence the topic chosen.
The audience had old students of Accra Academy, Adisadel College, Accra Girls, Aburi Girls, Achimota School, Ghana Secondary School Koforidua, Holy Child School and Wesley Girls High School.
Colour was added by the presence of the daughter of the 1950 Head Boy (Head Prefect) of Mfantsipim School Ingr BTK Adadevoh, Dr Mrs Susu Kwawukume (HOPSA 1972).
Nissan Ghaan
She is the Chief Medical Director of the Family Health University, home of Ghana’s premier Private Medical School, which she co-founded with her husband, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yao Kwawukume, Board Chair of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Also present were Brig Gen. Adjetey Annan (Rtd), Air-Vice Marshal Agyen-Frempong, the Chief-of-Air-Staff (Air Force Commander) (MOBA 1986) and Ato Afful (MOBA 1986), MD of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd.Advertising & Marketing
Lecture
Starting with a tribute to the dynamic leaders who moulded students in the formative years of Mfantsipim, Dr Chambas stated that transformation the world over has been unprecedented and at supersonic speed and complexity.
The topic “Educating for Peace, Democracy and Responsible” Citizenship” was therefore appropriate and apt. He quickly added that the three facets of the topic ‒ Peace, Democracy and Responsible Citizenship are not mutually exclusive.
Indeed, he opined that they are mutually reinforcing. Discussing each of the three, he stated that Education is not the mere acquisition of knowledge, certificates and degrees, but more importantly moral and character building for national development.
Without a combination of these three elements, no nation can make progress.
Reminding the audience of the adage “Charity begins at home,” Dr Chambas stated that responsible parenting is the foundation on which later education in school can be built.
Parents therefore owe it a responsibility to inculcate the values of respect, honesty, tolerance, integrity and moral courage in their children, which schools can later reinforce.
Here, he emphasised the importance of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), which he said must be properly funded to play its important role of civic education.
He cited as examples China, which grew out of a poor agrarian economy at the end of WW2 into the super-power it is today, and Singapore, which grew from a fishing island village with no natural resources to what it is today, through education.
On the importance of Education, Dr Chambas asked a rhetorical question, “Is our educational system teaching us to reject corruption?” He opined that the most effective long-term benefit of Education is to produce graduates who create jobs, and not seek jobs.
He gave the example of Finland, whose teachers are the highest-paid professionals, and have made Finland the most educated country in the world.
The Finnish example reminds us of Angela Merkel when she was the Chancellor of Germany.
When her decision to make teachers the highest-paid professionals in Germany was challenged, she asked a simple question, “Which of you doctors, engineers, accountants, lawyers, etc here was not taught by a teacher?”
With that, closure was brought to the debate, and teachers in Germany became the highest-paid professionals in the public sector.
Comments
The evening of Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Accra Ridge Church, where Dr Chambas spoke at a lecture marking Mfantsipim School’s 150th anniversary of secondary education in Ghana, was an evening to behold.History
The topic was “Educating for Peace, Democracy and Responsible Citizenship.”
In his characteristic calm and humorous “Chambas-ian” style, Dr Chambas gave a brilliant lecture with aplomb and perspicacity!
In the words of Akora Col Okai (Rtd) of OAA 1968, the lecture was awe-inspiring.
He suggested that such a high-quality lecture must go beyond MOBA, to a national, regional and indeed move into the global space where everyone will gain from it.
He described the planning and organisation of the function as “effective, efficient and exquisite!”
In his summary, the chairman, Goosie Tanoh, emphasised the importance of technology in our education.
Talking about participating in politics, without directly quoting Plato, he echoed Plato’s words: “The price good men pay for indifference to public Affairs is to be ruled by evil men” He added that corruption must be eschewed as it drives away investment.
In his closing remarks, the Ebusuapanyin (President) of MOBA, Moses Baiden Jnr Esq, thanked everybody for gracing the occasion. He expressed great gratitude to Dr Chambas, who graciously postponed his flight for an international assignment by a day, “just to allow him to be our Guest Speaker.”
He also thanked Goosie Tanoh Esq, the Chairman, and Brig. Gen. Frimpong (Rtd), the Moderator, on behalf of MOBA. Finally, he thanked the Chairman of the 150th Anniversary Planning Committee, retired Airline Captain Johnny Yamoah and his deputy, colleague pilot and immediate-past Ebusuapanyin, retired Airline Captain Paul Forjoe.
May we be inspired by the examples of HE Kofi Annan, HE Alex Quaison-Sackey, HE Mohamad Ibn Chambas, Mrs Mary Chinnery-Hesse, Dr Raphael Armattoe, Ingr BTK Adadevoh, Dr FL Bartels and many others!
