The Adisco Spirit Is Not Dead-A Case Study Of The Millennium Year Group

It is amazing how unforeseen or unplanned events can conspire to change one’s perceptions. Here is a confession; I was beginning to think that the younger generation of old boys didn’t really care much about Adisco and had to be dragged to the table. How wrong I was. Events over the last four days especially the launch of the Millennium Year Group’s Project for 2025 blew the cobwebs from in front of my eyes. Like Jimmy Cliff said in one if his timeless tunes, “I can see clearly now” (don’t try saying the word ‘clearly’ if you were born in the Ashanti Region!). How so?

Let’s start with a historical tour. When I entered Adisadel in September 1970, a long time ago, I became immediately aware of the contributions of old boys to the advancement of the school and its students. First, some of you may recall Wiseway Cleaners that did our laundry. Oh yes, we had our laundry done. In Aglionby House, pick up of used clothing etc was on Thursdays, and the neatly laundered abd folded items arrived back on Sundays. Unknown to us at the start, Adisco boys were paying a heavily subsidised fee for this service compared to all the other schools in Cape Coast. Why? The owner of Wiseway Cleaners was an OLD BOY. I believe he was I.B. Philips.

Some of you may also recall the food shortages of the mid-70’s when Mrs Lokko, Domestic Bursar, came under so much pressure to feed us. Who stepped into the breech? A group of old boys who supplied us with so much food. I remember we nearly rioted because we were consuming so much chicken!!!. Unbelievable. {It reminded me of a scene in the popular Osofo Dadzie series when a husband complained to the wife with the classic phrase “Aden, daa banku!”}. This was a noble gesture from this group of old boys who really were under no obligation to do anything of that nature. After all, they paid their school fees, studied, took their exams, and left the school on completion. They did it because of the proverbial Adisadel Spirit, this invisible force that takes residence in all students of Adisadel College from the first week, and impels them to add to the gains of their forebears to keep the Alma Mater as the first or with the first (Vel Primus Velcum Primis). In days gone by, the first week, known as Homos Week, was intense. We had classes to instil in us all things Adisco; the history, the triumphs, the school ode, the school Anthem, Adisco Makes A Wedding, When Abraham Went To X, names of all the areas of school, and most importantly, the fact that we were the best. It was “Adisco & the Other Schools”.

It did appear that in the last two decades or so, that spirit was waning in its influence on old boys hence my developing despondency. All changed on Saturday the 18th of December when the Millennium Year Group launched their fundraising effort for Speech Day 2025.

I was chairman for the function but that was by accident rather than by design. I was “sitting my somewhere” on Friday when the NEC President Dr Dan Owiredu got in touch and said he had a spare ticket for the event and was keen for me to attend. I had some ceremonial family commitments so initially declined. However, I subsequently managed to get an uncle to represent me at the family event. I arrived at the Coconut Groove Hotel, Accra with Dr Owiredu and Alex Wiredu, another 75er. I had hardly sat down when I was told the invited chairman could not make it and if I would mind stepping in to chair the function. Actually, I thought it was a joke being played on me by Dr Owiredu and Mr Richard Nii Amu Arthur, President of the 2G year group. It was not until we were invited to the high table that I realised this was no joke. Blastocyst! I was the Chairman for real.

Anyway, enough of that. As I sat through the various presentations from the Class President, Mr Richard Nii Amu Arthur, leaders of various committees, etc, it immediately hit me; the Adisadel Spirit Is Not Dead. No, it wasn’t. It was alive and kicking.
These guys left Adisco a quarter of a century after I left, and here they were with this expensive commitment to completely renovate and restructure the whole of Job 600 as great financial cost to themselves. I quietly asked myself why they were doing it. The answer was plainly obvious; these guys recognised that Adisadel made them, and they wanted to give something back. The Adisadel Spirit was clearly (that word again!) fully operational within this young bunch of old boys. Their enthusiasm was palpable and infectious. In fact, they were nearly like the 75 Year Group, very close.

As I watched proceedings and quaffed my chilled beer, I could only say to myself that the NEC is sitting on a sleeping giant that is the old boys associations, and this giant needed to be woken up to carry our beloved school into the future.

The icing on the cake was a meeting with Rexford Otoo, an Aglionbyte of the 2G Year Group. I first encountered him in my role as the Chairman of the Aglionby House Rehabilitation Project (AHRP). He was leader for the 2G Aglionbytes. He asked questions about the approach we were taking, mentioning things like Bill of Quantities etc. What the hell was that? I nearly took his appendix out so he could not take chocolates for the rest of his life. I was a veteran of the previous Aglionby House rehabilitation and this whippersnapper was asking me about bills of quantities🤣. But I saw a sharp mind. Once he came round, he chose a different tactic for his year group of Aglionbytes. He was going to get more if they donated collectively as a group rather than as individuals. Why? I was announcing all individual contributions. Some with less than the minimum amount being asked for might be reluctant to give and be announced so he asked his people to donate into one pot. This was presented as the 2000 year group of Aglionbytes contribution and it was big. This guy had mopped up all the offerings from the big hitters and the small hitters, and no individual was going to be announced. Very clever. So when he came and introduced himself to me, I was over the moon.

The Millennium Year Group had restored my faith in the potential generosity of old boys by the time I was leaving the function. My prayer to God is that you all keep the enthusiasm alive, deliver in 2025, and inspire others to follow your steps. The Adisco Spirit is not dead. And please heed the advice given by Dr Owiredu in his speech to you. You won’t go wrong if you do.

As if that was not enough, I listened to the leaders of the 97 Year Group as they gave a presentation on where they were with the Dining Hall Extension project at an NEC MeetingI was invited to on Monday afternoon. Once again, I saw a level of enthusiasm and commitment to the school that augurs well for the future. I cannot praise them enough.I found Ancestor (yes, that is his nane) of Santa 97 and his colleague a breath of fresh air. I hope to meet the 89 Year Group leaders, mates of the late Mr Atu Mould when they call on the NEC President. I’m inviting myself to hear what they have to say and be inspired.

Let’s not forget what the 94, 95, & 96 Year Groups have contributed to the infrastructural development of the school in the last three years

On a small negative note, I learned of a class with 400 old boys but with only 159 or so who regularly support class activities financially even though the non contributors have amongst them, many with the financial resources to contribute. I will say to all year group leaders with that level of disinterest in their grouo, not to give up. I heard recently that nobody boards a permanently stationary bus. Your apathetic mates may well jump on the bus when they see it moving. The giants amongst you must move the bus. A lot of organisations that have become successful did so on the shoulders and backs of giants initially.

So, I’m now convinced the Adisadel Spirit is not dead. The good old days can be emulated and bettered by the younger old boys. They have youth on their side, enthusiasm in their hearts, and are endowed with purposeful vision. They need the support of the older generation, and Adisadel will become great once more under the direction of the current NEC leadership.

Long live the Millennium Year Group. Well done, Class of 97.
You’ve restored my faith in the younger generation of old boys .
God bless us al.

By Dr Paul Mensah (Paulus) – 1975 year Group
Chairman-Elect, AOBA-UK