Mfantsipim’s red-and-black uniform: How student indiscipline created a school identity

What is now one of Mfantsipim School’s most recognisable symbols was born out of an attempt to deal with student indiscipline. The school’s distinctive red-and-black striped shirt, worn with black shorts, was introduced in 2009 after some students reportedly sneaked out of the campus and, when confronted in town, denied they attended Mfantsipim. The explanation they gave was that they were students of a nearby institution, CSI, whose peach tops and khaki shorts closely resembled Mfantsipim’s uniform at the time.

That similarity made it difficult to identify the boys, prompting the school authorities to seek a new design that would set Mfantsipim students apart. The decision eventually produced a uniform that has become a source of pride for generations of students and old boys, and a prominent feature of the school’s 150th anniversary celebrations this year.

The change was initiated by the then headmaster, Mr Koame Nieza Edjah, who tasked the school’s Art Department with coming up with a new design. A graphic design teacher and old boy, Ishmael Mcanslan Mensah, worked with students to develop several proposals. A committee subsequently settled on the red-and-black striped shirt and black shorts, which have remained the school’s distinctive attire.

The change was not merely about appearance. It was also intended to make it easier for school authorities and members of the public to identify Mfantsipim students outside the campus, particularly when disciplinary issues arose. A tribute to the school’s pioneers The colours were chosen to carry a deeper meaning, linking the students of today to the men whose efforts helped establish the institution.

The red represents the blood shed by the school’s founding fathers in their struggle to establish the school, while black honours the Black race. The design pays tribute to prominent figures associated with the school’s beginnings, including Kwabena Sekyi, John Mensah Sarbah and J.C. Brown. A Ghana News Agency report published in June 2009, when the new uniform was unveiled, also recorded the explanation that the colours were intended to honour the founding fathers and give the school a distinct identity.

The then headmaster, identified in that report as Mr Koame Nieza Edjah, said the uniform represented a new vision, character and attitude for the institution. The red-and-black outfit has since become inseparable from the image of the school. It is popularly associated with the nickname “Kotokuraba AC Milan”, a playful reference to the colours of the Italian football club. 150 years of Mfantsipim The uniform’s story is receiving renewed attention as Mfantsipim marks 150 years of existence in 2026.

Founded on April 3, 1876, in Cape Coast by the Wesleyan Mission, the school began as Wesleyan High School with 17 students and James Picot as its first headmaster. It is recognised as the first second-cycle school established in the then Gold Coast. Over the years, the institution has produced prominent personalities in politics, law, education, business, religion and other fields, earning a reputation as one of Ghana’s most influential schools.

The sesquicentennial celebrations, themed “A Legacy of Excellence, Leadership and Service to Inspire the Future”, have included the unveiling of commemorative anniversary cloth and official songs, as well as activities to recognise the school’s contribution to national development. What began as a practical response to students slipping out of school has therefore taken on a significance its designers may not have anticipated.

The uniform now represents discipline, history and a shared identity for the Mfantsipim community. As the school celebrates its 150th year, the red-and-black stripes remain a visible reminder of its past and the generations of students who have carried its name.