The foundation stone of Achimota College and School was laid on 4th march, 1924. In 1925, the Prince of Wales visited the site, adding his support to a project that was the most ambitious educational venture in the country. On January 28th, 1927 Sir Gordon Guggisberg, founder and Governor of the Gold Coast formally opened Achimota. Full kindergarten and teacher training classes began immediately. Over the years, primary, secondary and intermediate classes developed so that by the outbreak of the Second World War, Achimota was offering courses covering the whole span of pre- university education. Engineering and external degree courses of London University were established, and in 1935 the first student obtained his degree.

It was Guggisberg’s hope that Achimota would develop into the university of West Africa, and, but for the war, this might have been the case. But in retrospect we may feel that the Achimota which emerged out of the war years as a co-educational secondary schools, with a revived primary department in 1959, was in essence the true successor of Guggisberg’s scheme to provide an opportunity for a first class education at the secondary level that would enable its products to develop their talents in practical or academic fields to the highest level.

Click here to a list of all the former and current principals of the school.