Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO) is a co-educational second cycle institution located in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana.
History
Originally called Ghana College, the school was established in 1960 by the Government of Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, as one of the Ghana Education Trust Schools. It was started as part of the governments accelerated development plan which sought to provide the needed human resource for the technological and industrial take off of the country.
Originally named Ghana College, it started with seventy students [all male]. The name Ghana College was changed to Ghana secondary school in June 1970. At its inception, the school admitted and prepared students to sit the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations in the Science and Arts programmes. In 1978, the school introduced the sixth form programme which admitted successful G.C.E. Ordinary Level candidates to pursue the Advanced Level programme.
It has a student population of about 2,800, and is the second largest school in the region after Tamale Senior High School (Tamasco). The first headmaster of the school was Kenneth Luther Purser, a Jamaican. Master Abu Kassim Tahidu from Kwame Danso in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana was the first senior prefect.
In June 1970, a historic feat was chalked by the school when Mr. Lalaji, a mathematics teacher and his science students invented a rocket. On 22nd June 1970 the rocket was launched in the school with the Minister of Education Mr. William Offori-Attah in attendance.
Key areas
The administration block, the old dining hall, the new larger dining hall/ jams hall, the arts/ PTA block, the science block, the science laboratories including home economics laboratory, the mosque, Nkrumah house, Gbewaa house, Cabral/Gbanzaba house, Dakpema and purser house are boys dormitories. The girls dormitories include; indice 1, indice 2 house, annex 1, annex 2 house and Lordina house, the headmaster’s bungalow and the teachers’ bungalows. The Ghanasco dam is used by surrounding communities including Kukuo and students of Ghana Senior High School.
Achievements
In 2019, the school beat Armed Forces Senior High School and New Juaben Senior High School in the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz, which qualified them to the quarter finals in 2019.
In June 1970, a historic feat was chalked by the school when Mr. Lalaji, a mathematics teacher and his science students invented a rocket. On 22 June 1970 the rocket was launched in the school with the Minister of Education Mr. William Offori-Attah in attendance.[8]
School Anthem
Ghana Senior High, Tamale Anthem
Rejoice my soul for being a GHANASCAN
The home of learning;
“Patience and good intention” is our motto.
We shall work for our mother school with good intention,
we are proud to be GHANASCANS. 2x
Great GHANASCO
The home of learning
Great GHANASCO;
The route to success
We deserve the glory;
We deserve the honour that we adore
thee our mother school
We deserve the glory
We deserve the honour that we adore
thee our mother great GHANASCO.
Rejoice my soul for being a GHANASCAN.
The home of learning;
“Patience and good intention”
is our motto We shall work for our mother school with good intention; We Are proud to be GHANASCANS
Former headmasters
| Year | Name |
| 1960–1964 | Mr. Kenneth L. Purser |
| 1964–1967 | Mr. B. O. Ayittey |
| 1967–1969 | Mr. A. F. Clayton |
| Sept. 1969–1970 | Mr. W. A. Ofori |
| 1970–1973 | Mr. Adu |
| 1973–1981 | Alhaji B. A. Fuseini |
| 1981–1982 | Mr. Mahama Adam (AG) |
| 1982–1983 | Mr. S. M. Amankwa |
| 1983–1986 | Mr. Mahama Adam (AG) |
| 1986–1988 | Mr. L. M. Awuni (AG) |
| 1988–1990 | Mr. E. K. Kudiabor |
| 1990–1991 | Mr. A. A. Daramanu |
| 1991–1998 | Mr. Bolina Saaka |
| 1998–2001 | Alhaji Amadu Belko |
| Feb. 2001 – Oct. 2001 | Mrs. Mary Asobayire Dan-Braimah (AG) |
| Oct. 2001–2004 | Alhaji Mahamadu Saani Abdul-Rahman |
| 2004–2005 | Mr. J. B. Dakorah |
| 2005–2008 | Alhaji T. A. Mahama |
| 2008–2016 | Mrs. Mary Asobayire Dan-Braimah |
| 2016–Present | Hajia Amina Musah |
Notable alumni
- Joseph Bawa Akamba
- Yakubu Alhassan
- Alhassan Andani
- Moses Asaga
- Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal
- Hassan Ayariga
- Mahama Ayariga
- Kwame Ayew
- Nayon Bilijo
- Abdul-Samed Muhamed Gunu
- John Jinapor
- John Dramani Mahama
- Lordina Mahama
- Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed
- Abedi Pele
- Alhassan Suhuyini
- Prof Nafiu (Dean of Students- School of Allied Health Sciences, UDS)