St Peter's Alumni Launch Ambitious 70th Anniversary Project: 1,000-Seater Dining Hall and Modern Kitchen

The St Peter's Old Boys Association has unveiled an ambitious legacy project to modernise the school's dining and kitchen facilities as the institution prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary. The initiative, launched at the University of Ghana on Saturday, September 19, aims to expand the dining hall to accommodate 1,000 students whilst creating a safer, healthier working environment for kitchen and pantry staff.

The project forms the centrepiece of celebrations dubbed "Run to 70 – Every Step Counts," which marks the beginning of a year-long countdown to the milestone. Rather than focusing solely on commemorative events, the old boys have prioritised leaving behind tangible infrastructure that will serve future generations of PERSCO students.

The Case for Modernisation

According to Ing. Patrick Okoto, Chairman of the 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, many facilities at the school have remained largely unchanged for decades. "Some of the old things that existed, that's what they are still using. Some have deteriorated," he said, emphasising that it is time for the alumni to take responsibility for upgrading essential infrastructure.

Global President David Buafo highlighted the growing student population as a key driver for the dining hall expansion. The current facility cannot adequately serve the school's increasing enrolment, making a 1,000-seater capacity essential. Beyond capacity, the modernisation of the kitchen and pantry will address longstanding health and safety concerns affecting staff who work under suboptimal conditions.

Emmanuel Asiedu-Sekyere, CEO of Virtual Security Africa and a major anniversary sponsor, pointed to the successful establishment of a cyber lab as evidence of what coordinated alumni efforts can achieve. He called for a collective approach, emphasising that the dining hall project should not burden individual donors but rather represent a shared responsibility across the PERSCO community both in Ghana and abroad.

Why It Matters for Ghana

St Peter's Senior High School is one of Ghana's oldest and most respected educational institutions. The school has produced numerous leaders across government, business, academia and the professions, making its development a matter of broader national interest. The alumni-led initiative demonstrates how Ghana's educated diaspora and successful former students can contribute meaningfully to strengthening local institutions.

The project also reflects a growing trend of secondary school alumni taking proactive roles in infrastructure development, particularly when government resources may be stretched. By modernising facilities that directly impact student welfare—nutrition, hygiene and safety—the old boys are addressing fundamental educational quality factors that extend beyond classroom instruction.

Timeline and Broader Celebrations

The "Run to 70" marks the first of several planned activities. An official anniversary launch is scheduled for October, followed by a mega homecoming in December and Founders' Day activities in February 2027. The celebrations will culminate in a week-long programme in October 2027.

The old boys association is appealing to members of the wider PERSCO community, including those living outside Ghana, to contribute to the dining hall project. The leadership has framed this as an opportunity for alumni to invest in the school's future whilst creating a lasting legacy that transcends the anniversary celebrations themselves.