Our History

Origins and Early Years

Akosombo International School (AIS) was established in 1962 to provide quality education at the Kindergarten and Primary levels for the children of workers—mostly expatriates—engaged in the construction of the Akosombo Dam.

At its inception, AIS was an innovative experiment in education. Out of the 140 students initially enrolled, only 28 (20%) were Ghanaians, while the rest came from countries such as Italy, the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Portugal. These international students received tuition that enabled them to take examinations recognized in their home countries.

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Expansion and Growth

After the completion of the Akosombo Dam project in 1966, the school opened its doors to children and wards of all Volta River Authority (VRA) employees. Two years later, in 1968, a co-educational secondary department was added, along with boarding facilities.

Initially, the secondary department emphasized technical courses, leveraging Akosombo’s workshops and technical facilities. Over time, however, the curriculum expanded to include General Science, General Arts, Home Economics, and Business.

In September 1990, a two-stream Junior Secondary School was introduced, and by January 1994, the first intake of students for the three-stream Senior Secondary School was admitted as part of the new educational reform.

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New Campuses: Akuse and Aboadze

The school expanded its reach in 1982 with the opening of the Akuse Kindergarten and Primary Schools—a second stream of AIS—established to serve the children of VRA staff managing hydroelectric facilities in Akuse. A Junior Secondary School was later added in September 2002.

To meet growing demand in Akosombo, Kyease Kindergarten was set up to prepare pupils for primary education. It was later upgraded into a Primary School in 2002 due to the township’s population growth.

In the mid-1990s, as the VRA developed its thermal power project at Aboadze near Takoradi, a new township was established. Consequently, in November 1999, the Aboadze Kindergarten and Primary School was founded, followed by the Junior Secondary School in 2001.

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Leadership and Administration

The first Headmaster of AIS was Mr. W.H.D. Ames, a Canadian, succeeded by Mr. J.B. Morris (1963–1966) and Mr. B.A. Seaman (1966–1968). The first Ghanaian Headmaster, Mr. P.D. Quartey Jnr. (1968–1973), worked diligently to strengthen the Secondary Department.

He was succeeded by Mr. B.A. Sam (1974–1998), under whose leadership Mr. N. Ohene-Okae and Mrs. G. Manieson-Annancy served as Assistant Heads for Basic and Secondary Schools, respectively.

In 1999, Mrs. G. Manieson-Annancy became Headmistress, supported by Mr. John K. Tawiah and Mr. Arnold K. Seshie as Assistant Heads.

• Mr. N. Ohene-Okae supervised both Akosombo and Akuse Basic Schools.
• Ms. Mary Maud Beausoleil (Supervisor, Akuse, 1982–1995) was succeeded by Mr. Dan Cole (1995–2000) and later Mr. Reuben Kugblenu.
• Mr. Seth O. Oppong served as Acting Supervisor at Aboadze from 1999.

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Institutional Development

In 2001, the VRA Schools were officially recognized as a full department within the Volta River Authority.

• Mrs. Grace Manieson-Annancy became the first Director of the VRA Schools Department.
• She was supported by Mr. John K. Tawiah (Headmaster, Senior Secondary) and Mr. Arnold K. Seshie (Headmaster, Basic Schools).

By January 2011, the head of VRA Schools was re-designated General Manager, with Mr. Arnold Seshie as the first to hold the title. Mr. Julius Kog-Der became Headmaster of the Senior High School, while Mr. Shawn Kuwornu served as Headmaster of Akosombo Basic School, later succeeded by Mr. Willis Ampiaw in 2014.

In December 2015, Mrs. Bevelyn Asamoah was appointed General Manager, a position she held until 2017, leading the VRA Schools into a new era of excellence and innovation. The school has since had oversight responsibilities; Ms. Shirley Seidu, Mr. Kingsley Gyamfi, Mr. Amoako Baah, Mr. Eric Mensah Bonsu.

In 2025, the VRA Schools were officially recognized as a full subsidiary of VRA. Mr. Eric Mensah Bonsu became the first Managing Director of VRA Schools. Mrs. Sarah Freda Adei succeeded Mr. Julius Kog-Der as Head (SHS) after Mr. Kog-Der’s retirement in 2023. Mr. Willis Ampiaw retired as the Head (Basic, Aboadze) in 2024 and was succeeded by Mr. Ebenezer Galahad Abakah. Mr. Seth Oppong who succeeded Mr. Rueben Kugblenu as Acting Head (Basic, Akosombo) in 2021, also retired in 2024. He was succeeded by Mr. James Kwaku Boateng Kyeremeh.