Mr Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of United Nations (UN), has called on the country’s leadership to adhere to the tenets of peace and security, respect for human rights and rule of law to promote development.

He said no nation could develop without obeying these values and urged the country’s authorities to engage citizens in the formulation of policies since they have a long-term implication on upcoming generations.

Mr Annan was speaking at the 138th Fund Raising Awards and Dinner Night of Mfantsipim Senior High School in Accra, established in 1876.

The theme for the awards is: “Let’s Begin to Dream Again for Mfantsipim and Ghana.”

Mr Annan, who is an old student of Mfantsipim School, commended the academic facility for instilling discipline and maintaining academic excellence.

“A good school like Mfantsipim is a happy school,” he said.

He said his career in life as an international civil servant was cemented by the solid foundation he gained from Mfantsipim School and advised the current students to learn hard and justify the investment made on them by their parents.

The ceremony, which is anchored by the Mfantsipim Old Boys Associations (MOBA) 1984 Year Group, is to raise funds for the School Infirmary Expansion Project, aimed at increasing the bed capacity of the Dispensary from 24 to 46 with an eight-bed isolation ward at a cost of GH¢ 517,000.00.

The night also witnessed the conferment of an award for Exemplary Leadership, Dedication and Valour on Ebusuapany to Dr Francis Poku, who has been the President of the MOBA National Executives for the past 17 years, as well as the induction of 10 Mfantsipim Brand Icons.

They are Tsatsu Tsikata, Philip Addison, Frank Davies, Jnr, and Alex Quaynor for Law; Anis Haffar for Education; Kwasi Twum for Media; Reginald Laryea for Advertising, Marketing and Events Management; Moses Baiden, Jnr for Business Development and Entrepreneurship; Kwabena Agyei Agyepong for Politics; and Jerry Kweku Bedu-Addo for Banking and Finance.

Mr Ambrose Atto Esiam, President of MOBA 1982 presented a cheque for GH₵ 2,000.00 to Mr Gordon Sarpong, member of the championship team who lost his wife when he was preparing the school which won the 2014 National Science and Maths quiz competition.