By the 1930's Mfantsipim school and Adisadel College had been established for the Methodists and Anglicans respectively in the Gold Coast. This made the Catholics, especially in the Colony, very restive. They prevailed upon their Bishop, Bishop Haugar to build a Catholic Secondary School and College for their children. Such was their demand that when the Bishop did not heed to it, the Catholics started writing letters to the Holy Father to send them a real English Bishop who understood the important of education. Little did the Catholics know that Bishop Ernest Haugar had aquired a land and saved up some money for the establishment of the Boys' Secondary School. Unfortunately, due to persistent ill-health, Bishop Ernest Haugar retired and went back home on the 24th of October 1932 with the Holy Father's Permission

He was succeeded by Bishop Porter, an Englishman from Liverpool. When news got to the Gold Coast of the appointment of new Bishop, the question of a Catholic Secondary School forcibly came to the foreground. On the 15th of January 1935, Bishop Porter was able to bless the foundation-stone of St. Augustine's College which was solemnly laid by Sir Arnold W. Hodson, the then Governor.

His Lordship then turned his attention to female education. As soon as the walls of St. Augustine's College began to soar higher, the foundations of Our Lady of Apostle's College were laid. It was realised that to plant Catholicism deeper into the soil of Gold Coast the church needed the combine forces of both boys and girls.

"As far as possible", said Bishop Porter, every Catholic was to be educated in a Catholic School or College. The reason is very obvious. The ordinary man or woman imbibes his or her Catholicism from practice rather than theory. Catholicism in the school and the college is thus too necessary for the Catholic boy or girl. Their conversations at table and during recreations, their games and work and the expression of their ideals themselves, in a word, their whole body, mind and soul must be thoroughly a Catholic. And can the Catholic atmosphere, that almost indefinable atmosphere be found anywhere else besides the Catholic School and College?"

Therefore, to meet the increasing demands for wider educational facilities for girls, a reorganisation of existing establishments and the provisions of new schools became an urgent necessity.

Many female teachers were needed to help teach in schools. Shortage of teachers was acute. It was against the background that as far back as 1934 Bishop Porter of the Gold Coast Colony Vicariate had appealed to Rev. Mother General to open a Secondary School for girls in his Vicariate, but it was not until World War II between 1939 and 1945 that the foundation was seriously discussed and accepted. On the 12th of August 1945 the foundation stone of Holy Child (the combine Catholic Teacher-Training College and Secondary School for girls) was solemnly blessed by His Lordship Bishop William Porter and laid by the Honourable T.R.O Mangin, the Chief Commissioner of the Colony. The Commissioner was very happy that one of the post-war projects was to be the provision of education for girls.

The first party of three nuns, Rev, Mother Mary Joachim, Mother Mary Cyril (assistant) and Mother Mary St. Edward, landed at Takoradi on February 20th, 1946. They met at the wharf, first by the Rev. Father Fisher, Vicar Delegate of Bishop Porter, who was to prove himself to be a faithful friend and an invaluable counsellor during the early days of the college, and secondly, to their great joy and surprise, by Rev. Mother General and Rev. Mother Provincial. By the 5th of March 1946, the lower school building, the convent, three dormitory blocks, two dining rooms, a water-tower and two bungalows had been put up, the college admitted 120 students. The distribution was as follows:

Students for the Teacher-Training Department were transferred from O.L.A. Training College to Holy Child Training College to pursue a 4 - year Teacher Training course. From T IV T II and T II came from O.L.A.whilst senior girls who had completed their standard VII course were admitted to T.I.

Mr. Bentsil Enchill - a friend of Rev. Father Fisher and Bishop William Porter Visited many homes in Cape Coast and appealed to many parents with daughters to avail themselves of the golden opportunity made available to their girls to educate their daughters. The response was highly favourable. Many girls were also admitted from O.L.A. Girls Boarding School in Elmina.

When the Holy Child Sisters stepped on the compound of the new College, 120 girls had already been admitted. The first Principal was:
Rev. Mother Mary Joachim - M.A. Dunelon, History / English
Mother Mary Cyril - B.A. London, Geo. / Music - Vice Principal
Other members of staff were:
Mother Mary St. Edward - Art & Physical Training
Mrs. Sussana Cross-Cole - Domestic Science
Miss Sophia Daniel - Fante & Arithmetic
Miss Philomena Fiawoo - Ewe & Arithmetic
Rev. Mother Mary Julia - M. Sc. Dublin Science
Rev. Mother Mary Annunciata - Domestic Science, Dip. Manchester

On Friday the 21st of June 1946 the College was formally open by His Excellency the Governor Sir Alan Maxwell Burns was accompanied by his wife. His Excellency expressed great satisfaction that it was the order of Holy Child Jesus that had taken charge of the new College. The Order was a first class Teaching Order. His family had been associated with the Order of the Holy Child for three generations. His Excellency appealed to all parents to send their daughters to the new college for I quote: "it will provide a good education for its students under the supervision of members of an Order which in England is regard as a first class Teaching Order, an Order to which I entrusted the education of my own two daughters. It is not often that I should be vain enough - or rash enough - to suggest that my example should be followed, but in this matter, I see no need to be diffident in making such a request".

His Lordship William Porter continued to encourage parents to send their daughters to Holy Child College. Consequently, by 1955 the number of students has doubled and it became necessary to transfer the Training College Department to Takoradi. Holy Child School, the school which started with 50 students now has 700 students and Holy Child College now has 400.

The school offers academic as well as vocational course. Before 1955, students did their sixth-form course at St. Augustine's College until the school secured teachers to handle sixth form subjects. Holy Child College and School has produced and continue to produce highly qualified professional women who have served their country with great satisfaction and efficiency in accordance with the motto of the school "Facta Non Words" there two distinctive features in the educational system of the society. First, the students were given some measure of freedom and trust rather unusual in those days. One of the Nuns wrote, and I quote: "under such training the law of conscience becomes paramount, and a permanent basis of principal is developed which is not likely to be discarded later, with the school uniform". Holy Child School has had seven Headmistresses, 5 expatriate and two Ghanaians, whilst Holy Child College has had 4 expariates and two Ghanaians.

The school's academic record has been one of the best in Ghana. The school has had an enviable records and in games. But perhaps its distinctive features have been and still are its moral and spiritual educational dimensions which have been handed down to the present generation. The Founders believed that the human being were made of body, mind and soul in educating the child, therefore, the College authorities emphasised academic excellence, promoted games and sports and taught moral and religious education just as Mathematics and History are taught. Moral and religious education has left an indelible mark on all products of Holy Child. It has made them face realities and challenges in their lives outside the walls of the school. Each product is expected to live with the spirit of the Holy Child, the spirit of humility, simplicity, charity and joy for the rest of her life and in accordance with the motto of the school.

The National Union of Holy Child Past Student Association of Holy Child School and College are most grateful to the Catholic Church and the Society of Holy Child Jesus for their vision and dynamism in establishing the School and College to provide quality education for girls in Ghana. May the ideals for which they established this institution and which they stood for, continue to strive in both School and College. Long live the Holy Child Spirit, Long live Holy Child School and College, Long live Ghana!

Management,
Holy Child School & College.