St. Augustine's College (Cape Coast)

St. Augustine's College
The College Coat of Arms consists of a shield on which is a white cross on a green field. Superimposed on the white cross is a lighted touch flanked by a laurel that is represented by yellow olive branches. The grey colour on the upper part of the shield – combination of white and black signifies the combined efforts of the society of African Missionary (SAM) Fathers (whites) and African faithful in propagating the gospel through the promotion of excellent academic and moral discipline. School Crest Omnia Vincit Labor
Location
Cape Coast, Ghana
Information
Type	Public Secondary/High School
Established	1930
Staff	82
Grades	Highest
Enrollment	Yearly
Number of students	1700+
Color(s)	Green and White
Athletics	Track And Field
Mascot	hippo
Nickname	Augusco
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Address	P. O. Box 98 Old Elmina Road Cape Coast, Ghana
Telephone	+233 42 32129
Website	http://www.auguscocapecoast.edu.gh/

St. Augustine’s College is an all-male academic institution in Cape Coast, Ghana.^[1] The school started at Amissano, a village near Elmina, in 1930. The Roman Catholic institution was established to serve as a training college and seminary. The school was named after St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430). The motto of the college is Omnia Vincit Labor, meaning "perseverance conquers all".^[2]

History

St. Augustine's is an all-male public academic institution founded in 1930. It is the first catholic institution in the training of male teachers. It is also the first catholic second cycle school (senior high school) to be built in Gold Coast, (now Ghana). St. Augustine’s College is the biggest catholic senior high school in Ghana to date. Students who enter St. Augustine’s College received a high standard of education comparable to standards anywhere in the world. The College’s ground and playing fields cover an area of about 1.30 acres – 52, 6084 hectares (i.e. 0.2031 sq miles or 0.5192 sq. km). It is bounded by Fosu Lagoon/Adisadel Estates to the North, St. Augustine’s Practice J.H.S., the Catholic Education Unit and Archbishop’s House to the West, the Cape Coast metropolitan Hospital and part of the Fosu Lagoon to the East and the Atlantic Ocean to the South. It is about 1.8 km from Cape Coast Town Hall (Bakaano) and about 2.3 km from the West gate of University of Cape Coast. The school currently has a student population of about 1,931 and a faculty number of about 88.

On 6 August 1933, the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Cape Coast Vicariate Monsignor W. T. Porter^[3][4] felt the need to have a separate Roman Catholic school and Cape Coast was found to be the most suitable location.^[5] A commemorative foundation stone was laid in late 1935 at the present site. Fr. Maurice B. Kelly, the Dean of the Training College at Amissano, became the first Head Dean or Headmaster.^[6]

Culture

The Dean, Professors, Senior Student Counsel/Prefect and the Protocol Counsel/Prefect and his assistant are all Roman Catholic. The Anniversary/Ceremonial Day of the school takes place on the Saturday nearest St. Patrick’s Day, which falls around the second or third week in March every year.

St. Augustine’s College, popularly known as "AUGUSCO",^[7] calls its old students "APSUNIANS"^[8][9]

Due to the historical association and their common catholic antecedents, there is a tendency for Holy Child School old students (HOPSA) and St. Augustine’s old students (APSUNIANS) to get married. The church believes marriage between old students of the two schools will perpetuate the Catholic traditions. This institution dominates national sports and academics, partly due to its private funding from wealthy past students.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Student body

The population of the school is 1,968. Day students account for less than 2% of enrollment. St. Augustine's College is known for its General Arts, Business and Science Programs.^[14]

The college continues to educate Ghana's elite, and has a para-military cadet program which prepares students to enroll in the Military Officers Academy. Many students follow family tradition by enrolling at the school. Admission is highly competitive, perhaps the boys' institution with most annual applications, and includes a scholarship program for disadvantaged students.

It has exchange programs with foreign institutions such as the German Goethe Institute and AFS Intercultural Program.

The school has a tradition of excellence in academics and sports. Its students are among the highest performing in the WAEC exams^[15] and it has won the most of the yearly inter-schools athletic competitions. There is a good rivalry with Mfantsipim School (nicknamed Kwabotwe) in Cape Coast. Holy Child School (nicknamed Holyco) is considered the sister school as it is also catholic. In the 2007 edition of the National Science and Mathematics Quiz the College won, and two out of the school's three contestants represented Ghana.^[16] Team three won the West African Science and Mathematics Quizzes.^[17]

Houses

The College has ten (10) traditional houses providing room and board, typically named after Catholic Saints, with the exception of Kelly & Glynn's Houses named after two of the College's founding and prominent CatholicMonks. These are St. Peter's House, Glynn House, St. Stephen's House, St. Patrick's House, St. Theresa's House, St. George's House, St. Luke's House, Kelly House, St. John's House and St. Joseph's House.. The latest house was financed and constructed by an illustrious alumni Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom.^[18][19]

St. Theresa’s House

Named after Teresa of Ávila and is the oldest of the Houses. Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada (28 March 1515 – 4 October 1582), was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, author during the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross. This house sits at the edge of the School’s quadrangle and has two entrances.

St. George’s House

The house was named after Saint George and is on the second floor of the same building that houses St. Lukes. Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος Georgios; Latin: Georgius; AD 275–281 to 23 April 303) was a soldier in the Roman army who later became venerated as a Christian martyr.

St. Luke’s House

This House was named after Luke the Evangelist. It is on the ground floor of the same building that houses St. Georges. Luke the Evangelist (Ancient Greek: Λουκᾶς, Loukás) is one of the Four Evangelists—the four authors of canonical Gospels of Jesus Christ. Luke was a native of the Hellenistic city of Antioch in Syria. The early church fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel according to Luke and the book of Acts of the Apostles, which originally formed a single literary work, referred to as Luke–Acts.

St. Stephens House

It is named after Saint Stephen and it is on the first floor of the same building that houses St. Patrick’s. Stephen or Stephan (Greek: Στέφανος, Stephanos; Latin: Stephanus), traditionally venerated as the Protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity,[1] was according to the Acts of the Apostles a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings.

St. Patrick’s House

It is named after Saint Patrick and it is on the ground floor of the same building that houses St. Stephen’s. Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, along with Saints Brigit and Columba. He is also venerated in the Orthodox Church as Equal-to-the-Apostles.

St. Peter’s House

Named after Saint Peter and it is on the first floor of the same building that houses Glynn House. Saint Peter, also known as Simon Peter, Simeon, or Simōn, according to the New Testament, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, leaders of the early Christian Church. .

Glynn House

It is named after Reverend Father Glynn^[20] and it is on the ground floor of the same building that houses St. Patrick.

St. Joseph’s House

It is named after Saint Joseph and it is on the ground floor of the same building that houses St. John’s.

St. John’s House

It is named after John the Evangelist and it is on the ground floor of the same building that houses St. Joseph’s.

Kelly House

It is named after Reverend Father Maurice Kelly, first Dean and Headmaster of the College.

Nduom House

The latest house was financed and constructed by an illustrious alumni Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom.^[21][22]

Notable Alumni

Alumni of the school include:

• Professor Kwesi Botchwey, Ghana's longest serving Minister of Finance MOFEP;
• Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana;^[23]
• Lieutenant General Arnold Quainoo, a retired Ghanaian military officer who served as the Chief of the Defence Staff (Ghana) of the Ghana Armed Forces from August 1983 to September 1989.^[24]
• Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, former minister of Ghana, former member of parliament and entrepreneur;^[25]
• Dr Paul Acquah, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana;
• Dr George Yankey, lawyer and founding CEO of Ghana Gas;
• Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, diplomat, former minister of state, entrepreneur and member of parliament;^[26]
• Ben Brako, leading Ghanaian Highlife Star;
• Michael Essien, international football star;^[27]
• Junior Agogo, former international soccer star,
• Kantinka Sir Dr Kwame Donkoh Fordwor,^[28][29] former President of the African Development Bank.
• Ebo Taylor, a Ghanaian guitarist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and producer, focusing on highlife-style music.^[30]

References

External links

• School website

Coordinates: 5°6′13″N 1°16′48″W / 5.10361°N 1.28000°W / 5.10361; -1.28000