HIGHLIGHTS OF BLEOOBII HOMECOMING 2017

The Bleoobii Homecoming 2017 was held at the Accra Academy Interact Square (now Samuel Ofori-Adjei Ceremonial Square) on 5th August, 2017. Below are the highlights of the event; MEMORIAL SERVICE A memorial service was held for Bleoobii who had passed away since the last homecoming. Their names and year group were announced after which a minute silence was observed and a prayer said for them. The ceremony was officiated by the school chaplain, Mr. Addai Dapaah (Bleoo ’82). WELCOME ADDRESS In his welcome address, Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah presented the three (3) main themes of the homecoming as follows; 1. NSMQ (NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MATH QUIZ) Accra Academy is yet to win the National Science and Math Quiz thus AAOBA has budgeted GH₵ 10,000 from the levies to support the school in this regard. Further support is needed from Bleoobii to make the school’s dream of winning the quiz a reality. 2. ALUMNI HOUSE The Accra Academy Board of Governors has allocated a plot of land to AAOBA for an Alumni House. The Alumni House once completed will serve as a place where Bleoobii can relax, hold meetings and events, and socialize without disturbing school activities. It will also have facilities for rental and could eventually be self-sustaining.  Contributions from Bleoobii are pivotal in making the Alumni House a reality. 3. BLEOO LEGACY FUND Bleoobii are encouraged to contribute to the Bleoo Legacy Fund (BLF) which is an investment fund of life-time contributions of Bleoobii, invested in perpetuity for the maintenance, wellbeing and development of Accra Academy. Each life-time contribution by a Bleoobi would be used as seed capital to purchase Government of Ghana bonds over a 20-year recurrent cycle and would serve as his legacy to Accra Academy. The interests accrued from the purchase of these bonds would be donated to the school annually to fund school activities.  INDUCTION OF BLEOO 2007 YEAR GROUP The Bleoo 2007 Year group was duly inducted into the Accra Academy Old Boys Association by Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah. PRESENTATIONS TO PAID UP BLEOO YEAR GROUPS Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah presented Bleoo Year groups that paid the levy in part or in full with a certificate of recognition and a pack of homecoming branded water. DEDICATION OF ALUMNI HOUSE PROJECT SITE A procession of Bleoobii walked from the Interact Square to the south-western end of the school to inspect the Alumni House Project site. The site was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Victor Abbey (Bleoo ’81) and Rev. Lt.-Col.(rtd.) Addoteye-Asare (Bleoo ’76). BLEOO YEAR GROUP ROLL CALL The various year groups were given the opportunity to mount the stage and address the gathering. PRESENTATIONS TO ACCRA ACADEMY WASTE BINS To mark their 10th anniversary, Bleoo 2007 presented 20 (240 ltr size) waste bins to Accra Academy towards maintaining sanitation in the school. The items were received by Mr. Samuel Ofori-Adjei on behalf of the school. ELECTRONIC SMART BOARDS Bleoo ’90 announced that in an effort to champion the school’s ICT revolution they have installed four (4) electronic smart boards at the Science Labs and ICT Lab valued at $40,000. EXERCISE BOOKS AND PENS Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah (Bleoo ’73) donated 50 exercise books and 50 pens to Accra Academy on behalf of Peak Milk. The items were received by Mr. Samuel Ofori-Adjei, on behalf of the school. ARM WRESTLING COMPETITION The competition which was the first of its kind by the association was officiated by officers of the Ghana Arm Wrestling Federation led by its Technical Director and Secretary-General, Mr. Husseini Akueteh Addy. The 4-member delegation consisted of two (2) Junior referees at the National Level and two (2) Senior referees at the Africa Level. The contest was held on a non-scoring basis; hence the rules of the game were relaxed to make it more enjoyable. Four (4) finalists emerged at the end of the competition which was keenly contested. In the Lightweight division, Mr. Ali Gariba (Bleoo 2013) emerged as the winner and Mr. Daniel Agbedenu (Bleoo ’94) placed second, and in the Heavyweight division, Mr. Ransford Addy (Bleoo 2013) emerged as the winner and Mr. Eric Zagidibogidi (Bleoo 2002) took second place. The winners were each presented with one (1) carton of VitaMilk and a pack of homecoming branded water. The first runners up of the Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions each received some exercise books and pens sponsored by Peak Milk. A carton of Vitamilk was also presented to the team from the Ghana Arm Wrestling Federation by Mr. Emmanuel Bruce-Attah on behalf of VitaMilk Ghana Ltd. GARI SOAKING COMPETITION The competition was contested by 6 alumni who volunteered and was officiated by two (2) members of the planning committee.  At the end of the contest, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Umar (Bleoo ’95) emerged as the winner. Each of the six (6) contestants received a Peak Milk branded umbrella and clock. The winner received additional items sponsored by Mican Ghana Company Ltd. The prizes were presented by Mr. Albert Quartey and Mr. Simon Ontoyin on behalf of Peak Milk and Mican. SOLIDARITY MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT OF WESLEY GRAMMAR OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Mr. Alexander Konadu, President of the Wesley Grammar Old Students’ Association extended well wishes from his association to AAOBA. He also spoke about the need for all Old students’ associations in the country to unite under a single body in order to establish a direct line of contact with the Government of Ghana to channel the problems faced by schools and likewise be recognised as essential stakeholders and development partners. PAINT A CLASS CHALLENGE This initiative by the Bleoo ’90 year group was intended to motivate Bleoobii to use the homecoming as an additional avenue for contributing towards the maintenance of the school. They made available paint and painters, and for GH₵ 500, a Bleoobi or year group could select a class and have it painted within the span of 2-hours during the homecoming festivities. 13 classrooms were painted in all, 7 by Bleoo ’90, and one each by Bleoo '97,  '74, '77, ’78, '87 and ’88.