Dear Akora,
This is to thank all of you for indulging us with a great weekend for OAA. You gave us generously of your time at the Town Hall meeting last Friday and again at yesterday’s AGM. I thought both meetings went very well and I hope you did too.
Yesterday saw us launch the campaign to raise $1 million within a year for the Achimota School Endowment Trust Fund. The plan is to have a minimum of $10 million by 2027 when Achimota School celebrates 100 years of existence. That could generate a steady income of about $1 million to the School on an annual basis. Many people wanted to know what the current campaign was all about. This is it!!! That is how the OAA plans to support the school with its facilities development and maintenance into the future.
I would like to thank the many people who made pledges towards the Fund. As many as 4 people pledged $5000. I am happy to announce that the first $5000 pledge was redeemed this morning. At the end of the meeting yesterday one of my young Akora friends handed me an envelope for $1000. So the payments are now real. We walked away with more than $30,000 of pledges.
We are going to continue working on the marketing of this idea, but no one needs to wait for the perfect video or jingle before making a pledge or redeeming one. Be a part of the rebirth of Achimota School.
This morning, the good news continued. The 1991 Year Group brought Geodrill to the OAA-Tullow Science Block to present a cheque for GHS 150,000 towards the purchase of consumables for the new Science Block. They were led by their Year Group President and Akora Yaw Benneh-Amponsah, the chief arranger of funds.
I would like to thank all those who have made these good things happen to OAA. Your commitment and generosity are highly appreciated.
I would also like to thank our staff at the Secretariat who worked very hard to give us good meetings. They were simply amazing.
The contribution that Akora Shanti McCarthy has made in bringing Akoras together with his “Time with Shanti” programme is acknowledged here. I thank him for the great work he is doing.
Finally, I thank my colleagues on the Executive Committee for the great work they are doing to help us “prepare for the new Achimota”.
We are still receiving pledges. Every pesewa, cent or penny will be acknowledged and accounted for.
Have a most productive and fulfilling week as you dream about a new Achimota, one that you helped to create.
Ernest Aryeetey
OAA President
