The School

A Brief History of Mfantsipim 

The Humble Beginning 

Mfantsipim, the first secondary school in the Gold Coast, was founded in 1876 by the Methodist Missionary Society and early nationalists, responding to the growing demand for higher education and inspired by leaders such as Rev. G. W. Grimmer, Rev. T. R. Picot, and Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman. 

In 1874, Rev. T. R. Picot, then Chairman of the Methodist Church in Ghana, wrote to his Missionary Committee in England: 

“Our mission is not at all well-spoken of by the people in general or by the sister missionary societies, because we have not in the past paid sufficient attention to the education of our people.” 

As a result, the Methodist Synod resolved to establish a high school. On Monday, 3rd April 1876, the Wesleyan High School opened in Cape Coast with 17 students under its first Headmaster, James Picot, an 18-year-old holder of a College of Preceptors Certificate. At its inauguration, ten pioneer students enrolled, including John Mensah Sarbah, George Grant, Henry Van Hein, and William Fynn Penny (later Rev. Fynn Egyir Asaam). 

Names and Locations 

The school’s identity evolved over time—beginning as the Wesleyan High School, later renamed the High School and Training Institution, the Wesleyan Collegiate School, and Richmond College. Eventually, it was John Mensah Sarbah, a pioneer student turned distinguished lawyer, who gave the institution its enduring name: Mfantsipim. 

The school relocated several times before finding its permanent home on Kwabotwe Hill. Earlier sites included the Mission House, the Colonial School on Saltpond Road, Acquah’s House, Coussey’s House at the foot of McCarthy Hill, Government buildings near the Isolation Hospital, Sea View House, and Mount Hope. 

Difficult Years 

Between 1886 and 1900, the Wesleyan High School endured severe challenges, including inadequate accommodation and staff shortages. In 1891, it was renamed the Wesleyan Collegiate School, but little improvement followed. 

To rescue the situation, John Mensah Sarbah and other nationalists formed Fante Public Schools Limited and, in April 1905, established a new school, Mfantsipim. Both institutions, however, struggled financially and administratively, leading to their merger under Methodist Church management in July 1905, consolidating the name Mfantsipim. 

Meaning and Motto 

For Sarbah and his colleagues, Mfantsipim did not mean Mfantsefo Apem (“One thousand Fantis”). Instead, it signified the “Soul of the People”—a vision that within its walls, the intellectual and moral spirit of Ghana would be nurtured. 

Sarbah also gifted the school its enduring motto: “Dwen Hwe Kan” (Think and Look Ahead!). As Prof. A. Adu Boahen explains in Mfantsipim and the Making of Ghana, the motto was intended to “inculcate thoughtfulness and foresight.” 

The School Crest 

The school crest was designed by J. B. Essuman-Gwira, a mining engineer, licensed surveyor, and Sarbah’s brother-in-law. 

• The Stool and Two Swords – symbolizing authority, political organization, and social order. 

• The Open Book – representing knowledge and education. 

• Industrial Implements – symbolizing technical and vocational training. 

• Agricultural and Fishing Tools – representing resourcefulness and productivity. 

The crest, framed in red and black, also bears the names of several Akan and coastal states, reflecting unity. According to J. B. Amissah-Abadoo, a pioneer student, the symbols embodied authority, enlightenment, and the promise of national progress. The black represented the African, and the red symbolized sacrifice and blood. 

Notable Headmasters 

Throughout its history, Mfantsipim has been shaped by visionary headmasters: 

• Rev. W. T. Balmer (1907–1910) – famously discovered the “Faithful Eight” students and became their headmaster, inspiring their perseverance. 

• Rev. R. A. Lockhart (1925–1936) – advocated for colonial support of secondary education, relocated the school to Kwabotwe, introduced uniforms, and established the Mfantsipim School Committee, which became a model for school governance nationwide. 

• Mr. F. L. Bartels (1949–1961) – the first African headmaster, who championed expansion and development during Ghana’s transition to independence, with foresight and dedication. 

Each headmaster instilled values of discipline, courage, and faith in God, laying foundations that continue to guide the school. 

Legacy and Impact 

Mfantsipim has produced generations of leaders in politics, academia, business, diplomacy, and public service. 

• Political Leadership: 

• John Mensah Sarbah – nationalist and leader in the Aborigines Rights Protection Society. 

• J. E. Casely Hayford – founder of the West African Congress. 

• K. A. Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana (2nd Republic), alongside deputies J. Kwesi Lamptey and William Ofori-Atta, and Opposition Leader E. R. T. Madjitey—all Kwabotweans. 

• Vice-Presidents Dr. J. W. S. Degraft-Johnson, Kow Nkensen Arkaah, and K. B. Amissah-Arthur. 

• Global Influence: 

• Dr. Alex Quaison-Sackey – first African President of the UN General Assembly. 

• Busumuru Kofi Annan – first black African UN Secretary-General. 

Prof. Adu Boahen summarized it best: 

“Mfantsipim has produced educated, cultured gentlemen—men with trained intellect, critical faculties, and initiative—who have consistently shaped Ghana’s destiny.”