Most of the senior high schools established in the early first half of the 20th century in the Gold Coast (present Ghana) has beautiful Latin mottos.

This is understandable even though Latin was not the native language of the missionaries who established these schools, Latin was regarded as the language of the intelligentsia. To buttress this, schools like Mfantsipim (then known as Wesleyan High school) and Adisadel College (initially called S.P.G Grammar School, then later became St. Nicholas Grammar School) taught classical Greek and Latin as compulsory subjects.

The practice in doubt was borrowed from the Western world where these missionaries came from.

Looking at big institutions like Oxford University, whose motto is (“Dominus illuminatio mea) (the Lord is my light), Cambridge University, whose Latin motto -"hinc lucem et pocula sacra” (From here, lights and sacred draughts) among other others, it's evident that the practice was borrowed.

Today, I want us to take a look at the secondary schools in Ghana who pride themselves with Latin mottos.

I have painstakingly searched for the meaning of these Latin mottos in English to help us understand them.

Here we go:

Adisadel College: Meaning: Either the first or with the first

Opoku Ware School(OWASS)

Meaning: God is the light of knowledge

Bishop Herman College

Meaning: Soldier of Christ.

St. Louis SHS: 

Meaning: God wills it that all may be one

Archbishop Porter Girls:

Meaning: Purity of mind and body

St. John’s SHS, Sekondi

Meaning: Preparing the way.

Ghana Secondary Technical School(GSTS)–

Meaning - with minds and hands

Fijai SHS, Sekondi

Meaning- To the stars, through thick and thin

Accra Academy

Meaning: To be rather than to seem.

Achimota School

Meaning: That they all may be one

Accra High School – Meaning:Opportunity comes but once

Labone High School

Meaning - Always first at dawn

St Monica’s Senior High School

Meaning - all for one, one for all

St. Thomas Aquinas

Meaning - truth stands

St. John’s Grammar School

Meaning - Power for Industry

Holy Child School

Meaning - Deeds not words

St. Peter’s SHS: 

Meaning - For the duty of mankind

Pope John’s SHS, Koforidua – 

Meaning - We set sail.

St. Roses – Veritas

Meaning - truth

Okuapeman SHS

Meaning - Always first

Tema SHS

Meaning - Nothing but the best

Ola SHS, Ho

Meaning - As we onward

St. Augustine’s College

Meaning - Perseverance conquers all

Ghana National College

Meaning - For our forefathers.

Aggrey Memorial SHS: 

Meaning - Always aim high.

Presbyterian Boys SHS, Legon

Meaning - In thy light we shall see light.

Winneba SHS

Meaning - learn to serve your motherland.

Navrongo SHS: 

Meaning: The light of the North

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