By Prof. Nana Essilfie-Condua
When I read Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom had donated $64,000 to five Roman Catholic Church Institutions cross country, I remembered the advice which I overhead his Dad gave to Standard Seven Pupils who had just then sat for an Examination which was called “HALL” in 1942. One of those Pupils became a popular Sub-Chief for some and a controversial Person for others in Cape Coast. Over all, he did well for himself, dabbled in politics generally on the peripheries, shared some of his wealth investing and “Father Christmas” too as discretely and or similarly.
Master Yorke had been their teacher at the Catholic Jubilee School. “HALL” was shorthand for Town Hall. This was where all Elementary Schools final years wrote their examination for Standard Seven Certificate, a veritable ticket for employment in the colonial public service and the private Sector too.
By the way, most of this country’s “great Civil Servants” came from that level, Secondary Schools being five – expensive and quasi-exclusive – Mfantsipim,[Faithful “8”] Achimota, [Prince of Wales College] , Adisadel [St Nicholas Grammar School] and St Augustine’s where Dr Nduom had schooled. Master Yorke,[ Pa Kwesi’s father] told his pupils what his son has done recently as Press report unfolded. He was not there at the time.
