Author: Peter Martey Agbeko (APSU ’80)
Fifty years after they first walked through the gates of their alma maters, the St. Augustine’s Past Students Union (APSU) ’80 and the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association (MOBA) ’80 returned to Cape Coast last weekend — not merely to reminisce about school days, but to give back in ways that will touch generations to come.
From 26th to 28th September 2025, the two cohorts marked their golden jubilee of admission into “Augusco” and “Botwe” with heart-warming acts of generosity and service. The weekend-long celebration blended nostalgia, gratitude, and purpose, transforming cherished memories into tangible contributions for the benefit of current students.
A Gift That Keeps Giving — APSU ’80 at Augusco
At St. Augustine’s College, the APSU ’80 year group presented 50 galvanised double beds, 16 CCTV cameras, and two metal detectors — a package aimed at improving comfort and enhancing security across campus.
But the gifts did not end with material items. Members of APSU ’80 also held an interactive mentoring session with students, followed by discussions with the housemaster and prefects of St. George’s House, one of the adopted houses. The dialogue — candid, reflective, and inspiring — centred on discipline, leadership, and perseverance.
“The values we learnt here built our character and shaped our future,” one member noted. “Now it’s our turn to help the next generation of Augustinians navigate theirs.”
A structured mentoring programme is already in the works. The old boys pledged to return regularly to offer career guidance, academic support, and counselling, ensuring their influence continues long after the jubilee celebrations fade.
MOBA ’80’s Enduring Legacy at Botwe
Over at Mfantsipim School, the MOBA ’80 group also delivered a project that underscored their commitment to excellence and the school’s enduring motto — “Dwen Hwe Kan” (Think and Look Ahead).
Their golden jubilee gift included steel-framed desks and three fully renovated classrooms — transforming learning spaces that had weathered decades of wear. After the handover, the old boys spent time mentoring students, sharing lessons from their personal and professional journeys before joining them for lunch in the iconic Botwe dining hall.
For many, the sight of the old boys seated once again at those long dining tables — chatting with young students and trading stories about their time at The Hill — was both nostalgic and inspiring.
A Celebration of Shared Heritage
The golden jubilee festivities were preceded by a thanksgiving service in Accra on Thursday, September 25, followed by an open house party at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill on Sunday, September 21, which drew alumni from sister schools including St. Augustine’s, Adisadel, Wesley Girls, Holy Child, Mfantsiman, and Achimota.
Then came the highlight weekend in Cape Coast — a pilgrimage of sorts back to the schools that shaped their lives. On Saturday evening, both APSU ’80 and MOBA ’80 gathered at the Kokodo Guest House, a symbolic meeting point patronised by the alumni of their two institutions.
There, amid laughter, music, and nostalgic storytelling, they rekindled friendships forged in youthful exuberance and pledged to deepen collaboration between the two alumni bodies.
Faith, Service, and Gratitude
Sunday’s thanksgiving Mass at St. Augustine’s College provided a fitting climax. The solemn liturgy, attended by staff, students, and alumni, celebrated faith, service, and continuity.
During the service, new prefects for the 2025/2026 academic year were inducted, and the incoming Senior Prefect delivered an inspiring address, promising to lead with service, humility, and integrity.
By Sunday afternoon, both groups had completed their programmes — APSU after the thanksgiving Mass, and MOBA after worship with students, followed by a home-hosted lunch by one of their members.
For many, the weekend was an emotional homecoming — a time to reflect on how far they had come and how much they owed to the formative years spent within those cherished school walls.
Beyond Nostalgia: The Growing Power of Alumni Impact
The reunion of APSU ’80 and MOBA ’80 is part of a larger movement of alumni giving back across Ghana’s educational landscape. Increasingly, old student associations have become crucial partners in improving infrastructure, promoting academic excellence, and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
From Adisadel College to Wesley Girls’ High School, Achimota, Holy Child, Prempeh College, and beyond, alumni groups are spearheading projects that range from library refurbishments, provision of ICT centres to scholarship funds and health initiatives.
These contributions go beyond nostalgia; they are strategic investments in education, national development, and community empowerment. They reflect a growing awareness that quality education thrives not only on government support but also on the sustained commitment of its beneficiaries.
“Schools are the crucibles where our identities were forged,” one alumnus observed at Kokodo. “When we give back, we’re really paying forward the values and opportunities that made us who we are.”
When Rivalry Breeds Respect
The camaraderie between APSU and MOBA is especially significant. For decades, Augusco and Botwe have enjoyed a friendly rivalry — both, steeped in Catholic discipline and Methodist tradition respectively, are bound by a shared Cape Coast heritage.
Their joint celebration demonstrated that rivalry need not divide. Instead, it can inspire mutual respect, partnership, and progress. The sight of green and red blazers mingling harmoniously at Kokodo was a beautiful metaphor for unity in diversity — a reminder that true greatness lies not in competition, but in collaboration.
A Call to the Next Generation
As the golden jubilarians departed Cape Coast, many left with a renewed sense of purpose — a conviction that giving back must not end at symbolic anniversaries.
For the younger generation of old boys and girls, their message was simple yet profound: “Stay connected. Serve with gratitude. Lead with integrity.”
Education, after all, is not only about the pursuit of knowledge but also about the creation of legacies — legacies of excellence, empathy, and service.
In their gifts, their mentoring, and their faith, the members of APSU ’80 and MOBA ’80 have demonstrated that true success is measured not by what we achieve for ourselves, but by what we give back to others.
A Legacy Renewed
The weekend’s events closed on a note of celebration and quiet reflection. There were hugs, group photographs, and promises to return.
As the sun dipped behind the coconut trees lining the Cape Coast horizon, one could almost hear the echo of school bells and the voices of generations past — a timeless reminder that“Omnia Vincit Labor” and “Dwen Hwe Kan” are not just mottos, but enduring philosophies for a lifetime.
For APSU ’80 and MOBA ’80, giving back was more than an act of benevolence — it was a reaffirmation of identity, faith, and purpose.
And for the schools that shaped them, it was living proof that the bond between alma mater and student never fades.
