Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary

**Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary** (formerly **St. John's Seminary and College**, dem nickname am **POJOSS**), ebi all-boys boarding school, wey dey for Effiduase, Koforidua, insyd de Eastern Region of Ghana. Dem establish am insyd 1958 by Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD as a Catholic seminary for boys wey he wish say ego train person become priests. Students dey moe courses such as general arts, general science, business den visual arts after demma stay insyd de school, dem for sit for external examination wey dem dey call am West African Senior School Certificate Examination wey dem go place am insyd any of de tertiary institutions for de country.

De students of de school dem dey usually call dem *Pojomma* wey demma alumni dem dey call dem *Pojoba*, wey dem dey respond *Daasebre*.

## Mission
Say dem go train students so say dem go excel academically, be morally upright den well-discipline by de time dem complete demma course of studies insyd de school.

## History

On 8 November 1953, Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD,☃☃ Catholic Bishop odthdthen Diocese of Accra, now Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accrao come New Juabeng Traditional Area insyd Eastern Region, Ghana on ein first pastoral visit. He hold discussions plus Nana Frempong Mposo II, chief for de area, wey he lead de Roman Catholic Church mission go acquire land at Effiduase insyd Koforidua. Father Anthony Bauer den Fr. Henk Janseen were den ask to survey the land and their report was favorable. Early in 1955, Bishop J. O. Bowers decided to build a junior seminary for the Diocese of Accra on that land. In January 1955, Fr. Jude SVD, Dr. Balduricus and Dr. Lucian Orians came to construct the first buildings, one classroom block and a combined Fathers' residence and administrative block. In early 1957, Dr. Damian Brockmann SVD constructed the first Science Block. Today in its place stands a students' dormitory called Elsbend House, named after the first headmaster. In October 1957, Bishop Bowers appointed Rev. Fr. Alphonse Elsbend☃☃ as the first Headmaster and Seminary Rector, assisted by Rev. John O'Sullivan and Rev. Joseph Skorupka and Bismark Sosu. The school's chapel was constructed the following year in 1958.

On 21 January 1958, St. John's Seminary and College dem officially open am with 45 students; 14 seminarians den 31-day students wey dey inside two forms. One Ghanaian lay teacher, Mr. Paul Ohene-Boakye dem employ am to help de 3 SVD priests wey dem appoint am by de Bishop say make dem teach den instruct de young boys insyd demma academic work, moral den religious lives. Insyd June 1958, dem extend electricity give de school for de cost of 45 pounds. On 20 July 1961, de first Speech den Prize-Giving Day dem do am. De Guest Speaker bi Rev. Maurice Lesage SVD. M.SC., den headmaster of St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School insyd Accra den de distribution of prizes dem do am by Nana Frempong Mposo II, na he bi chief of Effiduase. De school ein enrollment for dis time come make 23 Seminarians den 90 day students, totalling 113 students. Pius Kpeglo (he come make catholic retired Monsignor), Senior Prefect for de seminary den school, wey come make successful insyd ein G.C.E. examinations den left on Scholarship on 7 August 1961 to do Philosophy den Theology for de Diocesan Seminary in Regensburg, Germany.

### Change of name den absorption into de public education system
From 1958 to 1968, St. John's College dey operate as a private Catholic institution wey ebi de Catholic Diocese of Accra wey dey finance de school fees give de few students. Sake of high cost of running de school, Father Fredrischs, de second Headmaster, go gey approval of Bishop Bowers, den apply for incorporation into de Public Education System for de Ministry of Education of Ghana. On 1 September 1968, St. John Seminary and College dem absorb am into de Ghana Education Service for de Ministry of Education (Ghana) as a government-assisted secondary school. De name for de school dem change am to Pope John Secondary School and Junior Seminary say ego avoid confusion plus other Catholic Schools insyd Ghana wey already dem designate am as "St. John". The name Pope John dem choose am in memory of Pope John XXIII wey just conven de Second Vatican Council wey dem want to keep ein identity den purpose for de former St. John's College. De 2007 Ghana education reform under de John Kufuor administration see say de school re-designated Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary.

### Growth den development
De mustard seed wey de Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Fathers insyd de Catholic Church sow under de supervision of Bishop Bowers wey come see remarkable growth den development.
Insyd July 1992 de Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua come erect, giving am autonomy from de now Metropolitan Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra. Most Rev. Dr. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle come make de first bishop for de new diocese. De management of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary wey become de responsibility give de Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua within de Ecclesiastical Province of Accra. Today, dem get about92 professional teaching staff den 85 non-teaching staff. Dem gey over 2000 boarding students plus a little wey dey under 100 seminarians.

More than 8,000 students wey pass through de classrooms den examination halls of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary. Over thousands of ein former students wey dem ordain am as priests for de Catholic Church, wey edey include Archbishop Charles G. Palmer-Buckle.

## School attire

Dem christen am as de "Reflector", de school ein uniform bi yellow shirt den blue pair of trousers or shorts wey may be worn plus de school ein tie den blazer. De yellow shirt bi sometin dem dey mostly worn over demma pair of shorts. Only form 3 or final year students wey dem dey allow to wear trousers. Other uniforms dey include de school cloth, de African print wear (wey dey san call am 'African wear') den house jerseys. House jerseys dem dey wear am for sports den every house too gey ein own colour.

## Culture
Pope John Senior High School dey maintains a very strong Roman Catholic culture wey dey underpins almost all demma activities. Ebi by convention say dem for appointment demma  head of school den key student leaders such as de senior prefect, student ein chaplain den demma assistants wey dem for belong to de Catholic faith. Dem dey Founders' Day Mass annually all over de country den insyd de school. Dem gey administrative student units wey ebi independent as edey demma own. Dem dey assist de school ein administration den governing de student body as dem dey maintain discipline. They are; De Students' Representative Council (SRC), De Prefectural Board, De Editorial Board, De Entertainment Board, De Chaplaincy Board den De School Cadet.

## Academic departments
Academic activities for de school dem structure am into departments wey gey heads-of-department who dey directly be responsible give de assistant headmaster for academics. De departments wey dem get bi General Science, General Arts, Business, den Visual Arts.

## Curriculum
POJOSS dey follows de Ghanaian educational Senior High School curriculum, wey edey operate in three-year academic cycle, edey start from form one to form three. Dem dey teach students throughout de year, as dem dey get over three academic terms. De first term for de academic year marks dey start de enrolment of form one students to de school while de third term marks de graduation give de form three students. De programmes dem dey run am by de school wey edey include General Science, General Arts, Business and Visual Arts. Form one applicants select four Elective courses. Unlike Elective courses, core courses wey dem dey offer am to all students, irrespective of demma program of study. De core courses insyd de school bi: English Language, Core Mathematics, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Information Communication Technology, den Physical Education, however, students dey only dey examine externally, insyd de first five aforementioned courses. Dem gey subjects wey dem dey teach wey ebi unique give de school sake of edey attach de seminary. Dem bi Religion, Doctrine Studies, Latin den Music.

## Facilities

Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary gey an ultramodern Science Laboratory, wey ebi state of de arts I.C.T. Centre, a library, a multipurpose athletic field, a basketball den volleyball court, among a host of others.

De school ein Parent Teacher Association (PTA), de SRC, de Roman Catholic Church den de POJOBA wey dey contribute to de development for dese facilities insyd de school. De school ein administration dey make sure that dese facilities dem dey effectively use am to enhance teaching den learning insyd de school.

## Chaplaincy

Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary gey chaplaincy wey dem dey head am by chaplain who dem dey appoint am by de Archbishop of Accra. Among other things, de POJOSS chaplaincy gey ein headquarters for religious groups like de Catholic Students Union (CASU), Legion of Mary, Eastern Region den de Sacred Heart Confraternity insyd de Eastern Region.

Ebi, therefore, dem dey see am as de organization for de St. Thomas Aquinas Day celebrations den Kwahu-Tafo pilgrimage wey dem dey hold am annually insyd de Eastern Region. De head of de chaplaincy bi Rev. Fr. Joel Yao Kwame of de Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

## Annual events
Throughout de school ein academic season, dem dey hold events wey ego enhance de formation of students plus demma academic work. They are as follows:

### Founders' Day celebrations
Each year on 21 January, dem dey organise a Holy Mass for de memory of de founding fathers for de school. Dem dey celebrate am by de Alumni of de school for de Holy Spirit Cathedral insyd de Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra den by de students for de school. Holy Mass wey dey precedes de celebrations den insyd Accra, as dem say all alumni-priests for de school.

### Homecoming Reunion

Dis event dey brings together all alumni for POJOSS for de school for fun games, socialising den networking. During dis event, old boys come deliver motivational talks give de students.

### Speech den Prize-Giving Day

A speech den prize-giving day dem dey organise am to award long-serving teachers den students wey dey excell for demma all areas of demma formation; academic work, sports d ensocial life.

### SRC Symposium den Funfair
Dis event dem dey organize am by de student administrative unit as dem dey bring together all sister schools den schools within demma locality for educational symposiums, entertainment jams den socialization. Occasionally, schools from de Greater Accra Region, Ashanti Region den Volta Region all dem dey invite. Dem take give de event a unique name by each group of administrators every year.

### St. Thomas Aquinas Day celebrations
Also dem known in student circles as *Tom Aqua*, dem dey organize by de chaplaincy for de school. Edey brings together all Catholic students wey dey insyd de Eastern Region to honor demma patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas den discuss matters wey dey affect dem.
Under de 2001/2002 executives of de Koforidua Diocese Catholic Students Union (KODCASU) de St. Thomas Aquinas Day dem come institutionalize am. De first dem organize am on 2 February 2002 for de St. George's Cathedral, Koforidua. De main celebrant of de Holy Mass bi Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, den Bishop of Koforidua. Notable among de students bi Mr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe (now Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe) who na he bi de Students' Chaplain of Pope John at de time.

### Inter-house athletics
Dis event dem dey organize am by de Sports Department to award students who dey distinguish Demma selves insyd field den track events. It san dey serves as an avenue give sport boys wey dem dey pick go rep de school for National Athletic Competitions.

### Elections
General elections dem dey organize every year to select new prefects den student administrators give de SRC.

## Campus

Dem gey staff bungalows den teachers' demma flats where instructors of de students dey insyd. Dem san gey Fathers' residence wey dey hosts de school ein chaplain den other priests of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.

### Houses
Dem dey currently gey seven houses available for boarding students who dey require a stay throughout a term:

* Pope John Seminary (Pope John House)
* Bishop Bowers House
* Nana Frempong Mposo House
* Alphonse Elsbernd House
* Paul Boakye House
* Fr. Amos Fredric's House
* Most Rev. Leon Badikebele Kalenga House.

## Academic performance

Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary dey maintains very high academic standard den gey over de years distinguish demma self insyd de areas of Science, Business, den Arts. Insyd 2012, de school place 9th for de WASSCE order of merit (Education in Koforidua), den come emerge victorious insyd many inter-school academic competitions. A survey dey indicate say that Pojoss dey contributes over 60% of ein students to tertiary institutions around de globe every year. Also, insyd 2015, Pope John Senior High School come chop 1st insyd de WASSCE rankings.

### Awards den recognition

* VALCO Soccer Tournament (1999) (Winner)
* National Independence Debate Championship (2000) (Winner)
* Milo Schools Soccer Championship (2001) (Winner)
* National Science and Maths Quiz (2001) (Winner)
* VALCO Soccer Tournament (2002) (Winner)
* Microsoft Internet Safety and Security Focus On Ghana (MISSFoG) National Quiz Contest (2009) (Winner)
* Junior Achievement Barclays Bank Chairman Awards (2009) (Placed Second)
* Project Citizen National Showcase (2011) (Placed 3rd)
* Ghana Youth Forum Debate (2012) (Winner)
* National Independence Debate Championship (2013) (Winner)
* National Independence Debate Championship (2015) (Winner)
* National Independence Debate Championship (2017) (runners up)(2nd)

Sharks Quiz Season 2 (2nd)

### Notable teachers

* Mr Emmanuel Agyepong (Received 3rd Prize for National Best Teacher Award 2001)
* Most Reverend Charles G. Palmer-Buckle (former chaplain den teacher)
* Mr. Yaw Gyebi (Received 2nd Prize National Best Teacher Award)
* Mr. Isaac Amanor(Geography department)

* Mr. Patrick Larbi Lartey (former Senior House Master den Teacher)
* Mr Eric Bempoe (Senior House Master)
* Benedicta Foli https://mybrytfmonline.com/headmistress-of-pojoss-sells-sachete-water-to-run-the-school-as-free-shs-funds-delay/(Former Headmistress)

## Clubs den societies

Students wey dey Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary dey involve demma self insyd Extracurricular activities through demma membership insyd clubs den societies. Dis dey bring out de talents wey dey insyd many of de students den dem dey use in securing victories for de school through debates, quizzes den boot camps. Edey include:

* Science and Maths Club (PJSMC)
* Literary and drama club
* School Choir
* Civic Education Club
* Child's Right International
* Mystical Vibes
* Olympic Club
* GUNSA
* Future Leaders Investment Club (FLIC)
* SYTO
* FRENCH Club
* Catholic Students' Union (CASU)
* American Field Service (AFS)
* Legion of Mary
* Knights of the Altar
* Air force Cadet
* Red Cross Society
* Art Renaissance Club
* Pope John InfoTech Club
* Junior Achievement Company
* Students' Representative Council (SRC)
* School Brass Band
* Scholarship and Talent Club
* Business club (GNABS, POJOSS)

## Student Representative Council

Sake of de large size of de school den student body, de administration wey dem dey decentralized am to de students demma level to ensure say dem go maintenance high standard of discipline insyd de school. At de helm of student administration bi de Students' Representative Council, wey ein head bi President wey gey two assistants who dey perform de role of Senior Prefects as well.

All other student groups, clubs den societies dey fall under de SRC den dem bi accountable to demma president. Among other things, de SRC dey ensures say dem go maintain de discipline wey dey among de students den promotes a good student-administration forum.

Edey over de years, wey dem contribute to de development of amenities den infrastructure for de school ein campus. Notable among dese bi de Visitors demma Lounge den students demma bath house. Currently ebi Master Franklin Amoh wey dey head am.

## POJOSS den Society
De Pope John community over de decades dey maintain a very cordial relationship plus de society, especially plus de Roman Catholic Church, de town of Effiduase insyd Koforidua den sister schools across Ghana.

### Alliances

#### POJOROSA

POJOROSA bi de acronym wey edey rep de alliance between Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary, den St. Roses Senior High School. Dis alliance come make plenty marriages of alumni of de two schools. Teachers from St. Roses have teach insyd Pojoss den vice versa. Alumni from Pojoss san return de gesture den teach insyd St. Roses. Annual programmes wey dem dey organize am by de two schools are often well attend by students of de schools as a gesture of the friendliness they bear toward each other. Apart from all these, Pope John den Saint Roses dey share de same heritage from demma founding fathers, de SVD missionaries.

Buh now ebi POJOKRO. Dis bi a collaboration plus Pojoss students den Krobo girls. De bond bi strong bond for de past years. Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary teachers dey teach insyd Krobo senior high school den vice versa.

#### POJOKRO
POJOSS' relationship plus Krobo Girls' Senior High School wey san come result de birth of POJOKRO: Though many dey see this as impossible alliance since Krobo Girls' bi Presbyterian school, de students dey often try dey breach that divide by inviting students of Krobo Girls' to some of demma annual programmes.

#### De Roman Catholic Church
De church dey maintains a cordial relationship plus Pojoss. Many of de school ein alumni come make Roman Catholic priests for de dioceses all over Ghana. De school ein boys' choir wey dey perform for many Catholic events wey edey include de burial mass for demma founder, Joseph Bowers. Catholic programmes are often dem dey organise am in Pope John, notable among bi de Sacred Heart Congress.

#### Electoral Commission of Ghana
Pojoss remains a polling station where elections for Ghana dey concerned. Members of de school staff are often employ as demma polling officials insyd every general election for de country insyd.

#### De [[University of Education, Winneba]]
De academic campus of Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary dem dey use am weekly weekend campus for Koforidua-resident distant learners wey dey offer courses at de university. Some of de school ein teaching staff san dey give tuition for all dese weekend lectures.

### Affiliations

#### De Roman Catholic Church
De establishment of Pope John bi a vision wey dem initiate am by de Roman Catholic church. Therefore dem dey know am as a Catholic school. De seminary dey continues to receive funding from de church to support de formation of seminarians.

#### Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Dem gey some informal relationship plus KNUST. Most of de university demma senior lecturers wey dey include demma past vice chancellor bi alumni of Pope John. Additionally, considerable number of alumni dey enroll insyd KNUST annually. Insyd 2012 under de Community Impact Program, KNUST donated books to de school ein library den supervise de renovation of demma science lab.

### Rivalry
Dem gey dis a friendly rivalry between Pope John Senior High den St. Peter's Boys Senior Secondary School, Nkwatia. Dem dey organise inter-school programmes to promote unity den cordiality among students.

## Chronology of headmasters

## Notable alumni

### Clergy

* Archbishop Charles G. Palmer- Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast

### Politics, government, den public policy

* Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Former MP for New Juaben North, Minister of Health and Ashanti Regional Minister
* Edward Omane Boamah, Former Minister of Communications
* Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, MP for Lower Manya Krobo and Former Deputy Minister of Defence
* Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information and MP for Ofoasi/Ayirebi
* Franklin Cudjoe, Founder and President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education

### Law enforcement

* Joseph Boateng Danquah, Former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces and Member of Council of State
* Major General William Omane Agyekum, Commandant of Military Academy and Training Schools
* Brigadier General Kweku Asamoah Yeboah, Director General of International Peace Support Operations, Ghana Armed Forces

### Academia

* William Otoo Ellis, former Vice Chancellor of KNUST

### Corporate, business, den finance

* Maxwell Opoku-Afari, Economist and first Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

### Arts den entertainment

* D-Black, Hip-hop star den entrepreneur
* Ibrahim Mahama (artist), Author den Artist of monumental installations

## San see

* Ministry of Education (Ghana)
* List of senior secondary schools in Ghana
* Joseph Oliver Bowers
* List of schools in Ghana

## References

## External links