Kumasi High School has transitioned from traditional firewood cooking to a modern steam-powered kitchen following the commissioning of a $100,000 facility donated by its North American alumni, marking a significant improvement in student feeding and staff welfare.
The new kitchen, funded by the Mmerante3 North America Group—an association of old students living in the United States and Canada—features industrial Steam Tek appliances that replace the school’s decades-old wood-fired cooking system with cleaner, faster and more energy-efficient technology.
Commissioning the facility at the school’s Gyinyase campus, Headmaster Benjamin Tawiah Twum described the project as a transformative investment that would significantly improve meal preparation while providing a healthier working environment for kitchen staff.
According to him, meals can now be prepared in a smoke-free environment within a much shorter time, eliminating the challenges associated with the previous firewood-based system.
“This project has transformed our kitchen operations. Our staff can now work in a safe, smoke-free environment while preparing meals much faster than before,” Mr. Twum said, expressing appreciation to the alumni for their continued support of the school’s development.
The initiative also addresses a long-standing occupational health concern affecting institutional cooks. Head Matron Joana Yamoah said years of exposure to smoke from firewood had left several kitchen staff with respiratory and eye-related illnesses.
Professor Chris Mensah-Bonsu, a member of the Mmerante3 North America Group and the project’s lead initiator, explained that the Steam Tek equipment can prepare meals for as many as 1,200 students in just 45 minutes.
He added that the facility operates on both electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), providing operational flexibility. To enhance reliability, the project included the refurbishment of the school’s propane tanks and the installation of a dedicated water reservoir to ensure uninterrupted water supply for the steam system.
The commissioning ceremony attracted notable personalities, including former Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the immediate past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Reverend Dr. J.O.Y. Mante.
Dr. Adutwum described the project as a model worthy of replication by alumni associations across the country, noting that replacing firewood with modern cooking technology would improve public health and protect institutional cooks from the harmful effects of prolonged smoke exposure.
Rev. Dr. Mante commended the alumni for their commitment to the school’s development and urged school authorities to prioritise regular maintenance to ensure the longevity of the facility.
President of Mmerante3 North America, Mr. Larry Osei Koduah, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to supporting Kumasi High School, saying the investment reflects the alumni’s desire to provide students with a modern, hygienic and efficient learning environment while improving their overall wellbeing.
