Tamale Senior High School (TAMASCO), in the Northern Region, is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary this year with a series of activities scheduled to climax in December 2026.
The anniversary, which is expected to be officially launched on May 23, 2026, on the theme: “Celebrating a legacy of excellence”, would bring together students, alumni, school authorities, and key stakeholders to commemorate the institution’s contribution to education and national development over the past seven and a half decades.
Establishment
Established in 1951 by the British colonial administration as Government Secondary School, TAMASCO was founded to help bridge the wide educational and development gap between northern and southern Ghana.
At the time, most social amenities, including schools, roads and hospitals, were concentrated in the south, leaving the north significantly disadvantaged.
Education historians said that while secondary education had begun in the southern part of the country as far back as 1876, with the establishment of Mfantsipim School, northern Ghana had to wait nearly a century before gaining access to similar opportunities.
This disparity compelled early northern scholars such as Alhassan Gbanzabah and Adisa Munkaila to travel to Accra to attend Achimota School.
Over the years, the school underwent several name changes—from Government Secondary School, to Gbewaa Secondary School in 1972, and later to Tamale Secondary School, before becoming Tamale Senior High School.
Today, it is widely known as TAMASCO and fondly referred to as the “Northern Light”, symbolising its pioneering role in expanding access to education in the region.
Significance
Some educationists and alumni have highlighted the school’s critical role in producing skilled human resources, particularly in the years following Ghana’s independence, when trained personnel were in short supply.
TAMASCO’s alumni have occupied prominent positions in public service, governance and international organisations.
Notable among them were former President Dr Hilla Limann; former Vice-President, Aliu Mahama; former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and celebrated diplomat, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, including many chieftains in the military and other security services in and outside the country.
Extracurricular activities
Beyond academics, the school had also distinguished itself in extracurricular activities. It had recorded successes in inter-school debates within the northern sector and made notable appearances in the National Science and Maths Quiz.
The school had also built a strong reputation in athletics and second-cycle football competitions such as the Milo and VALCO tournaments.
Investment
As preparations intensify for the anniversary celebrations, stakeholders have called for renewed investment in secondary education.
Concerns had been raised about growing challenges in funding, infrastructure expansion, and student discipline, among other emerging challenges in the country’s education sector.
Alumni
Alumni groups, including Old Tamascans Association (OTA), together with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and school authorities, must play key roles in supporting ongoing development efforts.
The 75th anniversary should not only celebrate past achievements but also serve as a platform to address emerging challenges and reposition the school for the future.
With its motto: Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter—Bravely, Faithfully, Successfully—TAMASCO’s story remains deeply intertwined with the broader narrative of education and development in northern Ghana.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh