Established in 1967 by Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, this second cycle institution had greatness written all over it from the get go and true to fashion has exhibited exactly that in every facet of its existence.
Education aside, Koforidua Senior High Technical School formerly Koforidua Secondary Technical School (K.S.T.S.) thrived as a major force in sports especially basketball. The sport, which is an ever growing presence in the West African country, is indirectly tied with the Sprite Ball Championship.
The tournament (which will be celebrating its tenth anniversary come January) is heralded as the best and biggest high school basketball competition and the bedrock of Ghana’s immense talent. Through Sprite Ball, several of Ghana’s National Under 18 teams in the past decade have been spotted. The likes of Joel Tham and Rudolf Acolatse were discovered at the annual event.
Back to the Eastern Region based side; Koforidua’s claim to be one of Ghana’s best basketball schools is valid as teams from the school have been a near constant presence in the tournament since its inception in 2007. The side was just a win from winning the ultimate prize in 2013 as it fell to Mfantsipim School in the final.
Between 2010 and 2013 marks the school’s best era as it won two bronze medals before missing out on a gold medal to Mfantsipim in shocking circumstances as the side led for much of the game. In recent years, quarter final showings have been the best marks set by the school with the latest being a 14-16 loss to Opoku Ware School at the 2016 Championship. Poor finishing at the rim cost Koforidua the win as Opoku Ware capitalized on point blank layup misses to rally from a 4-9 deficit in the first half to progress to the final four. In spite of the recent downturn in fortune for the side, the school has produced a deep array of talent that have dazzled over the years.
Major names like Paul Sackey, Prince Annan, Emmanuel Ekow Amoako, Robert Fiifi Brew Emmanuel Wolff and Summers Salifu sparkled in the competition before moving on to greater things. For Amoako, the fearless Guard led Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s teams of 2015 and 2016 to win silver and bronze medals respectively at the UPAC (Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges) Basketball Championship. It gets better for Shooting Guard Wolff as the slim reaper’s silky three point stroke powered University of Ghana to dominate the year by sweeping five awards at the 2016 Ghana Basketball Awards. The side won gold at the GUSA, UPAC and All Africa University Games.
Summers splendid form at the 2016 Sprite Ball and High School and College Draft has earned him a scholarship at Marshalls University College where he is set to light up next year’s UPAC edition. “Mmarima Mma” meaning “Sons of Men” is the slogan for Koforidua Senior High Technical School and the school truly deserves it for its imperious position in the ranks of Ghana high school basketball.
