A Legacy of Excellence
Huni Valley Senior High School, affectionately known as Great Hunivass, is proudly celebrating its Golden Jubilee—fifty years of delivering quality secondary education and shaping lives in the Western Region of Ghana. This milestone marks a significant chapter in the history of one of the region’s most respected educational institutions.
A Humble Beginning
Established on 15th November 1975 in the then Wassa Fiase Mporhor District, the school was founded to serve surrounding communities such as Amoanda, Wassa Damang, Subri, Ateiku, and Bompieso. At the time, Huni Valley was best known for its bustling railway station that connected Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
The early years of Hunivass were marked by struggle and sacrifice. There was no electricity or potable water, and both students and teachers fetched water from the Gyeatuo and Huni rivers. Evening studies were done by the dim light of kerosene lamps—so essential that a special “Kerosene Prefect” was appointed to ration supplies.
For the past five decades, the school compound has remained without a perimeter wall, posing security concerns and leading to encroachment on the school lands.
Resilience and Dedication
Despite these challenges, the pioneering teachers—many of them young university graduates—displayed extraordinary commitment. Through their hard work, they nurtured students from diverse parts of Ghana and the West African Sub-region and guided them to excel in the GCE Ordinary Level examinations, quickly earning Hunivass a reputation as one of the region’s most promising schools.
Alumni Making a Difference
Five decades later, the Hunivass Old Students Association (HOSA)—fondly called “Gyeatuo” (meaning “take a bullet” or “be brave” in Akan)—stands tall, with members excelling in every field of national and international life. From farmers to corporate executives, lawyers, judges, academics, clergy, police chiefs, teachers, journalists, politicians, and entrepreneurs, Hunivass alumni continue to make their mark in Ghana and beyond.
Many Gyeatuo have also served on the school’s governing board and in leadership positions across the education sector, ensuring that the legacy of their alma mater continues to shine.
The Golden Jubilee Celebration
Hunivass’ 50th Anniversary celebration begins on Monday, 24th November, with a week-long lineup of activities, culminating in a speech and prize-giving day on Saturday, 29th November. The celebration is under the theme:
“50 Years of Excellent Secondary Education: The Role of Stakeholders.”
Honoring the Founders and Trailblazers
This milestone offers an opportunity to honour the visionaries who laid the foundation of Hunivass. Foremost among them is Dr. Anthony Kwasi Appiah, a former Commissioner of Finance in the 1970s, whose foresight and leadership gave birth to the institution. The chiefs of the Wassa Fiase Bosomtwi Traditional Area also played a vital role by providing land and other support for the school’s establishment.
Tribute must also be paid to the school’s early headmasters—Mr. C.K. Ainoo and C.W.O. Kwakye—whose discipline and leadership built the foundation for academic excellence. They were succeeded by dedicated leaders such as Mr. Markwei, Mr. Nyameke Cudjoe, Mr. Amande, and Mr. Joseph Nakti, leading up to the current headmaster, Mr. Daniel Aidoo, himself a proud Gyeatuo.
The anniversary celebrations also make the old students remember and honour the pioneering teachers—some of blessed memory—whose dedication kept the school alive through its formative years. They include Mr. Mina, S.S. Kontomah, Francis Oduro, Mr. Ocansey, Mr. Kwakye, Mr. Solomon Amoah, ACOP Andoh Kwofie, Dr. Jehu Appiah, Mr. George Awere, Mr. Quaidoo, Dr. Ndur (UMaT), Mr. Andoh Wilson, Mr. Afful, Mr. Hagan, Mr. Atta, Mr. Ofori Asante, Mrs Amoako, Mr Enimil and others. Notably, Peace Corps volunteers Ricky Fordyce and Rottenberg also made invaluable contributions during those early years.
A Call for Support
As Hunivass celebrates this golden milestone, it continues to face pressing infrastructural challenges—including inadequate dormitories, classrooms, staff accommodation, and the need for a modern kitchen.
According to Dr. Nana Toni Aubynn (Chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee), the milestone is not only a moment of celebration but also “a call to renew commitment to education and community development.” to support the school’s Golden Jubilee Legacy Projects.
The President of HOSA, Mr. Kofi Arhin, has therefore appealed to old students, corporate organizations, and development partners—especially those operating in the Western Region to support the school’s Golden Jubilee Legacy Projects and help strengthen the next chapter of the Hunivass story.
He noted that the Golden Jubilee should serve as “a rallying point for all Gyeatuo to give back to the school that shaped our dreams and destinies.”
The writer is a Gyeatuo (Class of ’83), a journalist, pastor, and Faculty Head at Rosebank International University College (RIUC), Accra.