A DECADE is a significant milestone in the life of any organization and, thankfully, the same can be said of the Webb of Excellence Welfare Fund – a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the lives of female students of Ada Senior High School.
When on October 23, 2015, our Founder, Ms Eleanor Louise Webb, formally wrote to Mr Jacob Tetteh Tugah, the then Headmaster of school, to seek permission to establish the Webb of Excellence Welfare Fund to provide financial assistance for brilliant-but-needy female Day students of the Ada Senior High School, little did we know that a modest investment of 3,000 Canadian Dollars, would grow by leaps and bounds, within a relatively short period of 10 years, and, even, more importantly, make a huge impact on the lives of some top female students of the school.
Indeed, after successfully running the original scheme for three academic years – 2015-2017, 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 – we had to abandon it following the Government’s introduction of the Free Senior High School policy, beginning with SH1 students in September 2017.
With effect from the 2019-2020 Academic Year, therefore, the Webb of Excellence introduced what it called a ‘TERTIARY EDUCATION SUPPORT SCHEME’ and shifted its focus to the most OUTSTANDING FEMALE STUDENT of the Ada Senior High School who gained admission to any of the country’s PUBLIC universities after the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
And it is worthwhile to note that between the 2019-2020 Academic Year and now, the Webb of Excellence has successfully supported six female students to various tertiary institutions in the country and, the results, so far, churned out have been very refreshing.
Miss Juliet Nuerki Annang and Miss Nyemignor Korkor Okai, maiden beneficiaries of her Tertiary Support Scheme, graduated at the University of Ghana on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with Juliet Annang obtaining a First Class in Biochemistry and Cell Molecular Biology while Nyemignor Okai had Second Class Upper in the same course.
Then in September, this year, Naa Kuorkor Afutu, winner of the 2021-2022 Tertiary Support Scheme Award, followed the trail by obtaining Bachelor of Law Degree (2nd Class Upper) at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
Of course, we have not forgotten the brilliant feat of Stella Akpanglo, who eight years after hitting the headlines as the maiden award winner of the Webb of Excellence scholarship scheme for brilliant-but-needy female Day students of the Ada Senior High School, graduated with FIRST CLASS HONOURS in Bachelor of Arts (Junior High School Specialism) at the Mount Mary College of Education at Somanya in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The graduation ceremony was held on Friday, September 20, 2024, and it must be stated unequivocably that Stella was given a special financial support by the Webb of Excellence to enable her to go through her tertiary course.
The rest of our awardees, who are still in school, are making steady progress in their various fields of study. Miss Esther Pamela Teiko Partey, the 2020-2021 Award Winner, who is studying Pharmacy at the Cape Coast University, is currently in the 5th of her six-year course, and is expected to graduate in the 2026-2027 Academic Year while Mavis Naa Adoley Addo, the 2022-2023 Award Winner, who is pursuing a course in Business Administration at the University of Ghana, is currently in her Third Year, and is also expected to graduate in the 2026-2027 Academic Year.
Reflecting on what has transpired over the past decade, our Founder, Ms Louise Webb, in a short note, declared, “This is a quick but necessary date to mark on the calendar. It is amazing to realize this is the 10th anniversary of our worthwhile endeavour.
“We started with another concept altogether but revised it to meet the needs of deserving young ladies.
“To go through this metamorphosis has been a challenge but, as far as I am concerned, well worth the effort. I have to give credit where it is due – and that is to all of you, the Board of Administrators. You have been honest, diligent and a joy to work with. I would not have been able to run this program without your continuing support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart”.
Miss Webb also paid glowing tribute to the numerous groups and individuals in Canada, who have partnered her to keep the program running. “Many of the donors contribute regularly to this worthy cause and are happy to continue supporting this activity,” she added with a sense of gratitude.
In his goodwill message, Dr Gabriel Ofoe Canacoo, chairman of the Board was grateful to God “for sustaining us all these years” while Mr Emmanuel Amoako, Secretary of the Board, said, “I salute our Founder for her foresight in instituting the Award Scheme, her commitment and dedication in translating the dream into reality as well as the Management Team of the Ada Senior High School for their co-operation in ensuring a successful implementation of the project all these years”.
Dr Edward Soga, who is also member of the Board of Administrators, had this to say: “Truly happy to be associated with this worthwhile endeavour. My prayer is that the Almighty God continues to guide, protect and bless what we have embarked upon” while Miss Desma Soga, one of the successors-in-waiting, simply said, “Cheers to many more success stories and journey”.
Miss Adelaide Ocansey, the current Headmistress of Ada Senior High School, who has been part of this journey from its onset, also had this to say, “Thank God for a successful and impactful 10 years. I’m back to Ada Senior High School on a rebranding mission. I pray for God’s guidance to churn out brilliant and disciplined girls to continue this worthy cause”.
Sure, a decade is gone and we cannot undo what has been done. But with a collective will and determination, we must resolve that Webb of Excellence continues to gain new heights as we march forward.
That solemn pledge is not only for us as current administrators but for our entire Team of successors-in-waiting. May the next 10 years be bigger and better than what has just transpired. Cheers.
