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St. Mary's Boys' Secondary School

St. Mary's Boys' Secondary School is an elite male second cycle institution in Located in Apowa, a dormitory town in the Western Region of Ghana. It is the Second oldest Public Secondary School in the western region region of Ghana after Ghana Secondary Technical School in the western region of Ghana. It is about 10 kilometres westwards from Takoradi which is the Regional Capital of Western Region in Ghana. The School was established by the Catholic church in 1947 in the then Gold Coast now Ghana.

Famous people associated with school include His Excellency Robert Mugabe, a Pan-Africanist and former leader of Zimbabwe who ruled the country from 1980 until his resignation in November 2017 who taught in the School between 1958 to 1960. He met his first wife Sally Hayfron from Sekondi, Ghana in the school where they were both teaching, and went with her to Southern Rhodesia, where they were married in April 1961 in Salisbury.

History of the School

The school has been in existence for 70 years.The Institution traces its origin from Amisano in the Central Region of Ghana where the Catholic Church, in her avowed aim to offer the best training for young adherents, set up a two – year training College, an innovation in the system of the training of teachers at that time. The institution was formally opened by his Lordship W.T. Porter on 26th January 1947. The Staff consisted of;

Mr. B.J. Goggin (Principal)

Mr. Nicholson (Vice Principal)

Mr. W.L. Last (Senior House Master)

Mr. J.S. Nyamekye (House Master)

Mr. D.K. Puni (House Master)

Mr. F. A. Quagraine (Head teacher of the practice School.

Amidst great odds in the form of inadequate staffing, accommodation and non availability of any vehicle (for transportation) the principal and his team moved on to produce a number of Certificate B teachers for Catholic schools all over the country for the development of the then Gold Coast

A land was finally secured at it present day location in Apowa near Takoradi for the purpose. By February 1954, the permanent building had beencompleted and handed over to the church by the contractor. One of the features of the new site, that gave the students much delight, was the

A land was finally secured at it present day location in Apowa near Takoradi for the purpose. ight, was the presence of many wells. There was only one well at Amisano, the former.

It is worthwhile to acknowledge that in November, 1951, Mr. J.D. Otoo took over the administration as the first Ghanaian principal of the college.

It is worthwhile to acknowledge that in November, 1951, Mr. J.D. Otoo took over the administration as the first Ghanaian principal of the college. All this while the church was looking for a permanent site for the school.

A vast land was finally secured at it present day location in Apowa near Takoradi for the purpose.The new buildings at Apowa were solemnly blessed by His Grace W.T. Porter, D.D. OBE, the then Archbishop of Cape Coast and officially opened by the late Hon. Kojo Botsio, a Minister of State on 11th December 1947. On 26th February 1948 the college was re-opened and it had a student population of about 120.

Although the college was specifically founded to produce Certificate B Teachers, it had to be upgraded to the Teachers Certificate A when circumstances in the country changed. When the new status came along, the need arose for expansion of facilities in the college since more students were to stay in for longer periods at school. For example, the Dining Hall had to be extended to provide more seating places. On April 5th 1966, Mr. Charles Graves took over from J.D. Otoo, but he held the position for a very short time. The mantle fell on Mr. R.A. Sackey who took over the administration of the college on February 22nd 1968 as the principal. Under his leadership the college continued to turn out 4-year trained teachers for the nation.

In September 1973, however the college had to undergo another transformation when the government decided to phase out some training colleges and turn them into Secondary Schools

In September 1973, however the college had to undergo another transformation when the government decided to phase out some training colleges and turn them into Secondary Schools. The 5-year secondary School course ranconcurrently with the last batch of the teacher trainees who passed out in August 1978.

St. Mary's Boys' Secondary School bacame a fully-fledged Secondary School engaged in offering a 5-year course leading to the School Certificate or G.C.E. "O" Level equivalent in 1978.

In January 1991, another change took place with the introduction of the new Educational reforms, which placed emphasis on a 3-year secondary education instead of the 5-year programme. Mr. R.A Sackey was transferred to another school and replaced by Mr. J.S. Honny.

In January 1991, another change took place with the introduction of the new Educational reforms, which placed emphasis on a 3-year secondary education instead of the 5-year programme. Mr. R.A Sackey was transferred to another school and replaced by Mr. J.S. Honny. The final set of the old Secondary School system completed in June 1994.

It is significant to point out that the school admitted 19 girls in 1991 and since 1994 the school has reverted to its original status as a Boy's School.

In December 1996, Mr. J.S. Honny went on retirement and Mr. Kwaw Nzulu replaced him in January 1997, until January 2005. Currently, we are blessed with our first female Headmistress Mrs. Margaret Lemaire. She is full of energy and enthusiasm to move the school forward.

In December 1996, Mr. J.S. Honny went on retirement and Mr. Kwaw Nzulu replaced him in January 1997, until January 2005. Currently, we are blessed with our first female Headmistress Mrs. Margaret Lemaire. She is full of energy and enthusiasm to move the school forward.

In December 1996, Mr. J.S. Honny went on retirement and Mr. Kwaw Nzulu replaced him in January 1997, until January 2005. In December 1996, Mr. J.S. retired and Mr. Kwaw Nzulu replaced him in January 1997, until January 2005.

The school had its first female headmistress called Mrs. Margaret Lemaire in 2005. Mr. Joseph L. Bagbin replaced Mrs. Lemaire in 2010 when she was transferred to Holy Child Training College as a Principal.