The 2003 year group of Pope John Senior High and Minor Seminary (POJOBA 2003) have in a heartwarming display of community support and commitment to education, donated 100 desks valued at 50,000 cedis to the school. The donation, which took place during a homecoming event over the weekend of Friday, January 19 to Sunday, January 21, 2024, was met with gratitude and appreciation from the school and the wider community.
The gesture was a part of POJOBA 2003’s ongoing efforts to give back to the school and aid teaching and learning in a conducive environment. The school had over the years been facing challenges in providing adequate seating for its students. This negatively impacted academic work as students were forced to use dilapidated desks during school and prep hours. The generous donation of desks is expected to significantly alleviate this issue and create a more conducive learning environment.
The handover ceremony, held at the school premises, was attended by members of POJOBA 2003, local dignitaries, and the school’s teaching staff. The Headmaster, Reverend Father Benjamin Ohene, received the donation on behalf of the school with heartfelt gratitude.
In an address during the ceremony, a representative from POJOBA 2003, Enoch Nyarko, spoke passionately about the association’s commitment to supporting education and empowering the youth.
“Our alma mater holds a special place in our hearts, and we believe in the transformative power of education. This donation of desks is a small but meaningful way for us to contribute to the growth and development of the next generation,” Enoch Nyarko added.
Reverend Father Benjamin Ohene, visibly moved by the gesture, expressed his appreciation for the timely and impactful donation.
“On behalf of the entire school community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to POJOBA 2003 for this generous gift. The desks will provide physical comfort to our students and enhance the overall learning experience,” he said.
The homecoming event, which coincided with the donation, served as a joyous reunion for members of the POJOBA 2003 association. It provided an opportunity for alumni to reminisce about their school days and celebrate the bonds of friendship that have endured over the years. Some of the activities lined up during the homecoming event were a football match between the old students and the current prefects of the school which the Old Boys won convincingly, a rap competition, a cadet drill and a Thanksgiving Mass, among others.
The event also coincided with the Founder’s Day Celebration of the school which is held annually on January 21. A wreath-laying ceremony was held on that day in memory of the foundation members of the school and the old students who passed away in 2003.
Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary (formerly St John’s Seminary and College, nicknamed POJOSS), is an all-boys boarding school, located at Effiduase, Koforidua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It was established in 1958 by Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD as a Catholic seminary for boys who wished to become priests.
