New Auditorium Completed!

The Parents and Teachers of OLG Senior High School met on November 11 in the brand-new auditorium!

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Notice the white plastic chairs. Those were sent this summer in the three cargo containers full of furniture for the school, from Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and School in Edina, MN.

The students at OLG Senior High School in Ghana, have formed a "Students' Representative Council" and are throwing a celebration during "Student's Week", beginning November 20th.

Check out the amazing work they have already done by designing their own Logo, and artwork for the week!

Below are some photos from the student-led program, in the newly completed Assembly Hall!

Construction Update September 2017

Improvements, hardscaping, and NEW building construction continues on campus!

This is the new 1,000 seat auditorium, finished this summer just in time for Fr. Paul's farewell Mass at the end of August.

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A small Marian grotto is placed just under the ramp that leads up to the Auditorium!

New roads are being constructed all over campus. These are constructed of hand-placed cement pavers.

Here is a look at the brand new cafeteria, still under construction.

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First Annual RISE & SHINE Was a Success!

The First Annual RISE and SHINE fundraiser event to raise scholarships for OLG Senior High School in Ghana Africa, held on Wednesday, September 6 2017 at Interlachen Country Club in Edina MN, was a great success!

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Nearly 250 people gathered to hear stories from Dr. Agnes Akosua Aidoo, a member of the Board of Governors at the school, as well as two students.

Our First Annual RISE & SHINE Breakfast was a huge success.  We received over $204,729 in Scholarships for students at OLG Senior High School Ghana! Hear what others had to day:

“Dr. Agnes' speech was powerful and moving.”

“The video of Hubert and Cecilia Apana spoke profoundly of the sacrifice given, and need for scholarships.”

“The students (Dorcas & Emmanuel) sharing their testimony was impactful”

“I enjoyed learning more about the Ghana school”

“The timing of the breakfast was perfect; it was great that it was a morning event!”

Construction Update August 2017

Video footage from January of 2017. This footage is already out-of-date, as construction on the auditorium has completed, a new road has been finished, and many other projects are underway!

The campus is always improving and under construction!

As of August, 2017, a new road had been completed, and new plantings had been put in the ground

As of July, 2017, a new cafeteria was under construction:

Below is a rendering of how the finished cafeteria will look.

Helping Scholars RISE & SHINE During a Pandemic

In March of 2020, the Government of Ghana mandated the closing of all schools in our country. After a long three months, final-year students at the senior high level were directed to return to school. Under tight and constrained protocols, we were able to welcome back 254 students as they prepared for graduation.

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Preparing to Reopen School

Taking into consideration all coronavirus precautions and protocols from the World Health Organization, the Ghana Health Services (GHS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), School management met and proposed OLAG customized protocols, which were approved by the school Board on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Only four days later on June 16, we hit the ground running with a three-day training and workshop for all staff, focusing on responding to the needs of our current reality, while still  keeping our school’s mission and vision front and center. We covered everything from changing job descriptions and protocols to leveraging data and IT to improve the overall performance of the school. We also provided an entire session dedicated to discussing all of the approved protocols for preventing and combatting an outbreak of the pandemic.

In addition to training, we needed to purchase and position essential equipment and tools such as hand washing basins, paper products, masks, and other medical and sanitation supplies. We are so grateful for those who assisted in these investments, particularly Solrich Digital Consult, OLAG parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kyere-Frimpong, and the Ghana Education Service!

Staying Healthy

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In order to ensure that the health of all students and staff is well taken care of, the Government instructed schools to be mapped up with a local facility, which in our case is the Mamponteng Polyclinic. We are fully supported by both the administrator, Dr. Michael Awuah, and our local Municipal Health Director. Both of these medical doctors, having visited our school and met with our COVID-19 Team, the school nurses, management and staff, expressed their enthusiastic approval of our preparedness for any Covid-19 and other health emergencies, adding that they wished all schools were in similar state of preparedness.

Upon Dr. Awuah’s recommendation, the school made dietary adjustments to help improve students’ immune systems. In support of this effort, a parent of one of our students, Mrs. Justina Baidoo, has generously  supplied us with fruits worth about GHC4000 so far. Words of praise go for her and her family.

Returning to Campus & Resuming Lessons

Upon arrival, students received an orientation to update them on the various protocols going into effect. Classes started the next day and continued through Friday, July 24. Thanks to the cooperation and hard work of our amazing teachers, all the various syllabi were covered, and I believe that our students have been prepared for their examinations. What we need now is prayers from all!

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Our Spiritual Life

In order to continue to make the sacraments available to our students and abide by social distancing guidelines, we have divided our students into three Mass groups, each assigned to attend a 6:30 AM daily Mass on either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, and separated across three Sunday Masses. We have been greatly blessed by God through these Masses and other prayers, as well as your fervent prayers for us.

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Final Examinations & Concluding the School Year

The time is due for students to take one of the most important tests of their life: the West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). For our young people, this is the passport into acceptance at a university or college. Each student writes on a minimum of eight subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, and four elective subjects. The Visual Arts Students have already started their practical work, and the rest will begin throughout the month of August. Please join us in praying for our fifth graduating class as they go through their examinations, which will extend through September. It is our fervent hope that their success provides them the opportunity to continue their education, bringing great hope to their families, our school, and our nation!

A Growing Campus

Underway Projects

  • 2 Flats of Teachers Bungalows to host 24 teachers

  • Boys Dormitory to bring the total dormitories to 6 (3 for girls and 3 for boys)

  • School Clinic and Creativity/Multipurpose Center

Future Projects

  • Science Laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology

  • Conference Rooms

  • Accommodations for Assistant Nurse and kitchen staff.

These magnificent projects will enhance the facilities of the school, truly making us world class as we provide for our legacy in Ghana.

Thank you!

We are forever indebted to our major donors, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, MN, the Ghana Committee in the parish, our generous benefactors and benefactresses, our Bishop Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, the School Board, Fr. Paul Attah-Nsiah  and Fr. Robert Schwartz, the visionaries who started the school, the team of oversight committee members, the St. Jospeh the Worker Parish in Mamponteng in Ghana, parents, management and staff, Past Students of OLAG, current students and all stakeholders. Your love and generosity inspires our continued optimism!

The Pandemic & OLAG

As we all learn how to navigate these unprecedented times, we pray that all is well for you and you’re your loved ones. Our hearts also go out to OLAG as they respond to the local reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Pandemic & OLAG

Here is an overview of how they were impacted:

  • March 12: COVID-19 Hit Ghana, West Africa. Students and teachers were sent home.

  • March 16: The country was locked down and its borders were closed.

  • June 1: President Nana Akufo-Addo partly re-opened the country’s schools with pandemic preparedness guidelines.

  • June 12: Third-year students (OLAG seniors) returned to campus in order to work toward the completion of their national exams and graduation. The school received high marks for their use of safety measures.

The primary goal of reopening the school was to prevent the loss of access to continuing education for OLAG seniors and protect their dreams for the future. 

Please enjoy this short inspiring video featuring our OLAG students and getting an update from Father Sylvester, OLAG Headmaster.