O’R
eilly Senior High School has been grappling with infrastructure challenges despite being 101 years old and the fourth oldest senior high school in Ghana. The school still has no assembly hall or dining hall, while several classroom blocks remain uncompleted. It also faces poor roads, drainage challenges, the absence of a perimeter fence and encroachment on its lands.
To help address some of these challenges, a United States-based old student and philanthropist, Samuel Quansah Quarcoo, has commissioned an ultramodern office for the school matron and donated teaching and learning materials alongside medical supplies for the school’s clinic.
The donation included exercise books, mathematical sets, projectors, smart readers, pencils and other educational resources, while the clinic received blood pressure monitors, medicines, bed sheets and other essential healthcare items.
Mr. Quarcoo, who completed O’Reilly Senior High School in 1970, has over the years supported several development projects in the school, including the construction of its clinic and a Visual Arts classroom. He said this year’s intervention was aimed at improving student welfare and enhancing teaching and learning.
He, however, lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the historic institution and appealed to the Ghana Education Service to complete abandoned projects on the campus.
“It is a shame because this is one of the oldest schools in Accra and the fourth oldest school in Ghana. We are appealing to the Ghana Education Service to come around and see how best they can help the school. There are so many uncompleted classroom projects that have been sitting here for years. If these projects are completed, the students will have a better place to study because they are willing to learn; they only need a conducive environment.”
Headmaster of O’Reilly Senior High School, Francis Opare Aniagyei, described the donation as timely, saying it would strengthen both academic work and healthcare delivery in the school.
“We are very grateful to Mr. Quarcoo for completing the matron’s office, donating exercise books and mathematical sets for every student, supplying drugs and medical equipment to our infirmary, and providing projectors and robotic devices. These resources will go a long way in improving teaching and supporting our plans to introduce robotics in the school.”
Mr. Aniagyei also appealed to old students, corporate bodies and benevolent individuals to support the school’s infrastructure, particularly its deteriorating roads and drainage system.
“O’Reilly is 101 years old and needs a lot of infrastructural support. Our roads are in a very bad state, our drainage system requires urgent attention, and many projects remain incomplete. We appeal to all Orosans and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the school and complement the efforts of government.”
The latest intervention adds to ongoing efforts by old students to improve facilities at O’Reilly Senior High School as authorities continue to seek support to preserve one of Ghana’s oldest second-cycle institutions.
By Bawa Musah
