Bishop Bowers School at Laterbiokorshie in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra has climaxed its 50th anniversary celebrations, marking five decades of commitment to holistic Catholic education.
The golden jubilee celebrations, launched in October 2024 under the theme “50 years of holistic Catholic education, the story of Bishop Bowers School”, brought together alumni, past and present head teachers, clergy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, religious sisters and parents.
Delivering an address at the February 7 event, the Headmistress of the school, Sister Matilda Quist SSpS, traced the roots of the institution, saying, “The story of Bishop Bowers school dates back to 1975, when the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit, SSpS, established a school with a mission to offer quality Catholic education over the years.”
She noted that over time, “The school has evolved into a leader in academic excellence and moral formation, with generations of learners who have positively imparted the community,” adding that “The school has produced generations of graduates who excelled academically and in moral formation.”
Highlighting the current state of the school, Sister Matilda said, “Currently, with 952 learners, 88 dedicated teaching, non-teaching and administrative staff, we hope to make more remarkable strides.” According to her, the school’s formation is grounded in values, as “The school instilled discipline, integrity, service and faith through strong academics, religious education, co-curricular programs and sports, supported by committed staff and an active parents’ association.”
She pointed to the impact of this formation, stating that “The wide range of successful careers pursued by graduates of Bishop Bowers school, including education, medicine, engineering, law, finance, media, the priesthood and more, attest to the holistic Catholic education they received.”
Describing the jubilee as a moment of renewal, she said, “This milestone is a time of reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment,” stressing that “we remain dedicated to preparing future leaders who will uphold the school’s motto, knowledge, love and service.”
While celebrating the achievements of the past five decades, the Headmistress also acknowledged challenges facing the school, including “classroom space due to people’s growth,” “inadequate digital learning facilities,” and the need for “strategic investment in modern infrastructure and ICT resources,” in order “to keep pace with global educational trends.”
She expressed deep gratitude, saying, “our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Almighty God for five decades of His great mercy, grace and steadfast guidance that have steered it from humble beginnings, to its current position.” She honoured “the visionary founding bishop, the late most reverend Dominic Kwadwo Andoh,” the SSPS Sisters, and past and present leaders whose “selfless commitments has established and maintained a solid basis of discipline, love and academic excellence.”
She also thanked “the Archbishop, His Grace, Most Reverend John Bonaventure Kofi, CSSp, for his unwavering support to the school,” as well as teachers, parents, alumni, donors and friends whose “prayers, sacrifices, and devotion have kept the spirit of Bishop Bowers alive all these years.”
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp, in his address, described the anniversary as an opportunity “to look back with gratitude, to reflect honestly on where we are today and to think carefully about the road ahead into the future.” He reminded stakeholders that “Education was never meant to be only about passing examinations. It was about forming the whole person, the mind, the character, the conscience, and the sense of responsibility to God and to the society.”
Archbishop Kwofie underscored the shared responsibility in education, noting that “The story of Bishop Bowers School is a shared responsibility,” and cautioned that “A school cannot replace the home. Education works best when parents and teachers work together to support one another.”
He further noted that society was drifting from foundational values, saying, “we must admit that we are slowly moving away from some of the core values that shaped us as Ghanaians,” adding that “Losing them comes at a cost.”
Addressing students directly, the Archbishop urged them, “Do not take it for granted. Take your studies seriously,” stressing that “Knowledge without character does more harm than good.”
The celebrations marked the culmination of months of activities including community outreach, academic and social programmes among others.
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