Established in 1964, the school, with capacity for about 3,000 students, saw enrolment affected by the Nkonya-Alavanyo conflict situation and had only a couple hundred students left until the introduction of the Free SHS.

Mr. Moses Kwabena Ansah, Headmaster of the School, reported an appreciable student number of 756, and commended the flagship State programme.

The free education programme, which had benefited millions of Ghanaian youth, boosted enrolment in schools across the country, and the Nkonya Senior High School was not left out.

“I must commend the Government for its Free SHS Policy. This policy has increased drastically the school’s enrolment figures and eased the financial burden on parents,”

Mr. Ansah said at the 60th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday.

The Headmaster called attention of stakeholders to the school’s challenges, and said dormitory and classroom facilities were in “dire need” of repairs while a lack of solid fencing around the institution affected total security.

He said classrooms, dormitories and the school dining hall all lacked furniture, calling for urgent attention for the dormitory situation in particular. “A huge number of learners have to sleep on the floor in some of the dormitories.

Particularly, all learners in the new girls’ dormitory block have to sleep on the floor. This situation predisposes the learners to several health conditions, especially asthma.”

Mr. Ansah further appealed for more staff for the school, and also for more bungalows to hold them in.

He made appeals also for computers for the School’s ICT lab, books for the library, and said a pickup truck for smooth running of the institution would be required.

The Anniversary Celebration was on the theme: “Nkosec at 60: Fulfilling the Aspirations of the Founding Fathers,” and present were old students and community leaders, all who remain active in sustaining the school through the times.

The Headmaster noted the growing academic success for the school, products of which maintained prominence in the professional world in all aspects.

Mr. Daniel Machator, the Oti Regional Minister, said the government was “doing its best to ensure all senior high schools had the full complement of infrastructure”, and revealed plans for an Astroturf Sporting facility for the school.

He said among infrastructure for the Biakoye District, the Government would complete the new Assembly building complex and upgrade the local clinic into a hospital.

The Regional Minister said plans existed to establish a bank in the area for enhanced access to financial services and said as part of a nationwide agricultural mechanization effort, all farmers in the district would receive farm equipment.

The Regional Minister commended the community for maintaining peace over the years and urged traditional leaders to encourage youth into non-violence particularly in the run up to the coming elections.

He said the district was set to benefit from the SOCO project, designed to strengthen institutions in conflict prone areas, and again called on traditional leaders and stakeholders to maintain the road to peaceful coexistence.

Mr. Machator donated an amount of GHC20,000 to support the school, and assured of prompt address of furniture and other pressing needs.

Peace Ambassador, Clemence Gyato, highlighted the role of the conflict in the present predicament of the school, and said the livelihood of the community as a whole had been affected.

He however, commended traditional rulers in Nkonya and Alavanyo for the relative peace for close to a decade, and said the stigma and the insecurity that remained needed to be addressed.

The Peace Ambassador donated an amount of GHC50,000 to support the school Cadet, and said an enhanced cadet corps would make the school more attractive.

An anniversary cake was cut, and funds were raised for the construction of a modern gate to mark the occasion.

Traditional rulers and also parliamentary candidates for the various political parties were present at the celebration and supported the construction.