The Executive Committe of the OAA inducted the latest batch of Leaving Students into the Membership of the OAA at a short ceremony at the Aggrey Memorial Chapel on Sunday, 4th May 2008.

The Old Achimotan Association (OAA) has been conducting an Induction Ceremony to induct final year students into the membership of OAA during the third term of the year before they leave the school after their final exams.
This has previously taken place at the forecourt of the Staff Club House which is adjacent to the Alumni office of the OAA. The club house also serves as a meeting place for various OAA activities.  This year however, the event took place at the Aggrey Chapel.

As 2008 Akoras-to-be arrived at the Chapel, they were each given a candle and a copy of the OAA Induction Pledge. The service started at about 6.00pm with the singing of the School Hymn ‘Grey City of the Outlaws’ Hill’. OAA Executive Committee members, Staff, Akoras and a few parents were in attendance. The School Hymn was followed by a prayer by the Headmistress, Mrs. Beatrice Adom (nee Quaye), of the 1975 Year Group and then the School Prayer by all present. The Headmistress reminded the final year students that they were assembled to make a pledge to God and therefore they were to take the event very seriously.

Akora Sarah-Lynn Mansaray (OAA 65), the OAA President, welcomed the gathering with a short message. She explained that the choice of the Aggrey Memorial Chapel for the ceremony was based on a desire to give proceedings a more solemn air. The enclosed area ensured better control over events and allowed for a greater number of parents and Akoras to attend.

A number of Akoras addressed the gathering with messages of encouragement, thought-provoking words and occasionally admonishment.

Akora Yaa Achiaa Agyeman(OAA 63) spoke about the need for a strong year group organization a prerequisite for strong bonding of members of the year group, which could sometimes exceed sibling bonding. She added that OAA membership does open doors when positively utilized and advised the Akoras-to-be to always remember to be a part of the family.

Akora Faustina Hyde (OAA 55)  impressed upon the sudents the binding duty on them to give back to the School in the same measure they received, through the formation of a strong and closely knit year group.

Akora Kwesi Erskine-Graham (OAA 40) The Oldest Active Akora exhorted the Akoras-to-be with the saying “Manners maketh the man” and asked them to exercise the Christian virtue of patience in everything they did.
The students were asked to write their names on their copy of the Pledge Form, after which they lit the candles given them. They were led in the recital of the Pledge by Akora Harold Richardson (OAA Vice-President), after which the certificates of admission into the membership of the OAA were distributed. The certificates were handed out by various Akoras present, in batches according to boarding house.

Elections were immediately held for interim officers of the group. The following were thus elected as the first officers of the newly formed OAA 2008 Year Group:

•    President         -    Fred Buame
•    Vice-President  -    Nana Marfo Ahenkora
•    Treasurer          -    Audrey Addae-Asamoah
•    Secretary          -    Princess Washington

The elections were followed by a few more optional speeches from other Akoras of a more youthful vintage.
Akora Ahmeeda Mansaray (OAA 96) reminded the new Akoras to be ‘Living waters to a thirsty land’. She also asked them to maintain respect for others as well as themselves, respect for both occasion and time, and finally to comport themselves according to the situation at all times.

Akora Lom Ahlijah (OAA 02) encouraged the new members to affect a good bond of friendship to enable them to contribute their quota to the progress of the School.

Akora Kwame Boadi (OAA 88) whose year group is also the Mentoring Year Group of the newly formed 2008 Year Group speaking about the origins of Achimota School and why the School was special, reminded the new members that Achimota was founded to train and educate people in the 3 Hs - the Head,  Hands, and Heart - and to grow people would serve the Ghanaian community and world at large.

A very appropriate vote of thanks was given by a member of the 2008 Year Group after which all present sang the School song – ‘From Gambaga to Accra’.

Refreshments were served at the Staff Club House to round off the event. Many Akoras stayed on after the event to continue socializing and networking. A good time was had by all!