Some senior high schools in Ghana are well known not just for their academic performance but also for shaping the future leaders of the country.
Among these schools, the one which stands out the most is Achimota School. This school has produced more Presidents and Vice Presidents of Ghana than any other senior high school in the country.
Achimota School is located in Accra and was officially opened in 1927. It was the first secondary school in Ghana to admit both boys and girls.
So far, Achimota School has trained three Presidents of Ghana. These are Edward Akufo-Addo, Jerry John Rawlings, and John Evans Atta Mills. Edward Akufo-Addo was part of Ghana’s independence struggle and later became a ceremonial president.
Jerry John Rawlings ruled Ghana as a military leader before becoming a democratic president.
John Evans Atta Mills served as Vice President under Rawlings and later became President in 2009 until his death in 2012. All three attended Achimota School during their early years.
The school has also produced a Vice President. John Evans Atta Mills, before becoming President, served as Vice President from 1997 to 2001. This makes Achimota the only senior high school in Ghana to have produced both Presidents and a Vice President.
Other schools have also played important roles in Ghana’s leadership. Mfantsipim School trained two Vice Presidents, Ekow Nkensen Arkaah and Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. Tamale Secondary School, also known as TAMASCO, produced Aliu Mahama and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, both of whom became Vice Presidents.
Ghana Secondary School in Tamale produced John Dramani Mahama, who served as Vice President and later became President. Wesley Girls’ High School, a famous school for girls in Cape Coast, trained Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who became Ghana’s first female Vice President in 2025.
Even though all these schools have contributed to the country’s leadership, Achimota School remains the only one to have trained three Presidents and a Vice President. Its motto, “That They All May Be One,” continues to reflect the school’s mission to unite and shape the future of Ghana.
