The founding fathers of Mfantsipim wanted the school to inculcate in its boys the virtues of humility, honesty determination, hard work, and love for service to God and man. The records of Mfantsipim is replete with the achievements of the school and of its products which easily exemplify these qualities.
Very passionate about their alma mater, ‘Old Boys’ of Mfantsipim have always demonstrated a spirit of collective good towards the development of Mfantsipim.
In 1888, a letter to the editor of the Gold Coast Echo from an “Old Boy” drew attention to the discouraging state of the school. In the 1950’s, several meetings were held to plan the 75th Anniversary of the school. A fund was launched to assist in equipping and maintaining the Africa section of the School Library and an amount of £270 was raised. The “Old Boys” again raised 200 guineas to enable the school send four (4) Ghanaian teachers to the UK for refresher courses.
MOBA was formally inaugurated in 1947 and meetings were held in particular geographical areas where a group of Mfantsipim Old Boys found themselves. They met periodically to keep up the camaraderie, reminisce about their days on the Kwabotwe Hill and deliberate on how they could contribute towards the development of the school.
Over the years the situation changed, and a national association was established with the late Dr. J. V. L. Philips as the first Ebusuapanyin. He was succeeded by Mr. E. D. Kom. Each administration worked hard to keep the association together by providing leadership and a focal point for support for the school.
MOBA was very instrumental in the Centenary Celebrations of Mfantsipim in 1976.
In 1997 a new National Executive Committee, with Dr. Francis Poku as Ebusuapanyin, was voted into office at a Congress held in the School Assembly Hall in Cape Coast.
Dr. Poku and his team made substantial and long-lasting contributions to the development of MOBA and Mfantsipim. They also set about to improve the structures that had been put in place in furtherance of the aims of MOBA.
A new constitution was drafted to guide the activities and serve as a master document for Year Groups to follow in fashioning their own constitutions and bring legality to MOBA. The key feature of the new constitution was the creation of the MOBA National Council made up of two (2) representatives from every Year Group as the highest decision-making body of MOBA.
This bridged the gap between the National Executive Committee and the Year Groups. It gave the Year Groups the opportunity to be directly involved in taking decisions for the benefit of both MOBA and the school.
Other initiatives of the Dr. Poku led NEC included but were not limited to the following:
The establishment of a permanent Secretariat. It was first located on the Ring Road and then moved its present location at the Methodist Church Conference Office. Continued with the MOBA Annual Christmas cocktails instituted by their predecessors. Supported the introduction of the Mfantsipim and Adisadel Funday Games. Set up the Renaissance Committee to develop a master plan for the Infra-structural development of the school and put in place a funding scheme. Chaired by Frank Tackie (’67), a document was produced and endorsed by the School Board.
Revived the construction of library complex at the School during the 125th Anniversary. The library complex (now Kofi Annan Building) stands as an imposing edifice at Mfantsipim after it was eventually completed with assistance from the GETFund. Refurbishment of Senior Science Lab. Through the efforts of Old Boys in Tullow Ghana, US$500,000 was given by Tullow Ghana and its Jubilee Partners towards the project. Instituted Founders’ Day celebration. A bus was provided for Old Boys to travel from Accra to Cape Coast to celebrate the event with the school. Conduct of elections to elect a new Ebusuapanyin and new executive members of National Executive Committee.
Other members of Dr. Poku’s team were the late Albert Kittoe (’64): Vice-President, Ernest Kwesie (’64): Treasurer, Reginald Hansen-Thompson (’72) Assistant Treasurer, William Sam (’66): Secretary, K. B. Coleman (’76): Assistant Secretary and Eugene Kwakyi (’77): Organizer In July 2015, a new MOBA National Executive Committee with Capt. Paul Forjoe (’73) as Ebusuapanyin was inducted into office at a solemn service at the Calvary Methodist Church, Adabraka, attended by a host of ‘Old Boys’.
The oath of office was administered by the then Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana the Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante. Capt. Forjoe and his team with the support of the MOBA National Council for the past seven years, have worked tirelessly to build on the structures and policies initiated by their predecessors and also introduced new ones but most importantly have in so many ways strived to unite the MOBA family.
Headmaster Rev. R. A. Lockhart (1925 – 1936) is quoted as saying: “Who hurts the honour of this School hurts my honour, it is the only thing I have in this country…to be Principal of Mfantsipim is a great privilege”. As “Old Boys” we can reecho these words saying, “What hurts the honour of Mfantsipim hurts us greatly because this is the School that has made us what we are today and it is indeed a great privilege to be an ‘Old Boy’ of Mfantsipim.”