“Esse Quam Videri” translation, “Be Seen” is the motto of Accra Academy and the school is definitely seen the world over.
As one half of the best all boys senior high school in Ghana’s capital Accra, Accra Academy can lay claim to a host of achievements that rival those of Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC-Legon). Education aside these two giants have a long standing rivalry in other spheres including sports chief among them basketball. With two final appearances to show for its efforts over the years in the renowned Sprite Ball Championship, PRESEC has gained a massive lead over its rival chool.
Accra Academy on the hand has been late to the table as an appearance in the maiden edition of the tournament was followed by many years of barrenness which only got broken this year when the side sealed a place in the main competition.
It was a subtle moment to see proud alumni Patrick Akoto and McMartey Lawer at the competition covering their alma mater in varied scopes. Lawer, a former player who starred for Accra Aca in 2007 was the Master of Ceremonies at the tournament as the seasoned Sports Journalist and avid pundit Akoto manned the lines in excitement.
Unfortunately for the duo- who share many years of Ghana basketball history between them-their beloved side failed to deliver on their promise to dominate the competition. Housed in Group A alongside heavyweight and four time winner of the competition Mfantsipim School, Mawuli Senior High School and 2013 finalist Koforidua Secondary Technical School (K.S.T.S.), the challenge looked enormous for the side from the get go.
Over the years, the Sprite Ball Championship has witnessed shocking results that have completely gone contrary to the script including Akwamuman Senior High’s famous win over Mfantsipim but all parts of such a script went out the window in the opening game against K.S.T.S.
The Eastern Regional side hammered Accra academy into a humiliating 1-18 loss which will go down as the worst result in the history of the competition. Further pain was inflicted on the side as Mfantsipim bat Accra Aca 32-4 in the second game and ultimately sealing the chances of an appearance in the quarter final stage.
Against the little known Mawuli Senior High, there was great hope the side will be able to earn a win in the competition. Well that was before Mawuli beat them 16-7. In all the side lost all three games conceded a whopping 66 points scoring just 12 points to sum up an underwhelming performance for Accra Aca in its bounce back year.
The silver lining came in the 2016 High School and College Draft where Coach Curlsbonny Owusu was at hand to draft three players from the talented pool on scholarship to the school which is the start of a new revolution in the school’s basketball program.
Added to the promising group on the roster, the future is definitely bright for Accra Academy. The school’s “Bl33oo” slogan meaning “keep calm” will be needed most by the ever green alum of this great institution for better days have began.
