About Us
Mensah Sarbah Hall
The Hall is named after John Mensah Sarbah (1864-1910), patriot and statesman who was one of the most outstanding nationalists of the Gold Coast now Ghana. He made a lasting mark in shaping national politics, education and law.
The hall consists of the main hall, and Annexes A, B, C and D. The Vikings hostel, an initiative of the alumni, is the latest addition to the residential facilities of the hall. Residential facilities range from 2 in a room to 5 in a room in addition to special rooms offering comfort and privacy.
The hall is the best mixed-hall on campus because of its unique history. The hall has affiliations with Katanga hall in KNUST and CASFORD Hall of UCC. Students of the hall are nicknamed the VIKINGS.
History
01
Summary
- Mensah Sarbah Hall is the “youngest” of the 5 traditional Halls of residence at the University of Ghana. The rest are Akuafo, Commonwealth, Legon, and Volta Halls. It was opened for occupancy in October 1963 with 246 students when continuing students from the 4 existing Halls, as well as freshers, converged to what was then called “United Nations”.
02
1963
- It was opened as the first mixed Hall of the University and was officially commissioned on December 19, 1963, by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Kojo Botsio on behalf of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of the Republic of Ghana. The first Hall Master was Professor E.A. Boateng of blessed memory.
03
Naming
- Mensah Sarbah Hall is named after the lawyer – Politician – Statesman, John Mensah Sarbah, who played a significant role in shaping the political destiny of this nation through his indomitable leadership in the nationalist movement that opposed the Lands Bill of 1897. John Mensah Sarbah also instituted an Educational Endowment Fund for students of the ”Colonies” in British-held West Africa. John Mensah Sarbah was a visionary on the educational front and it was really a fitting memorial to his name that the 5th and only mixed Hall of residence at the time was named after him.
- More about Mensah Sarbah.
04
Today
- The Hall has produced four Vice-Chancellors comprising three for the University of Ghana in the persons of Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana), and Rev. Professor Adjepong, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.
Mensah Sarbah Hall has a rich history of sports in the University of Ghana. The Hall has won gold medals in many sports disciplines of the University and contributes signficantly to the pool of sports talents in the university.
The Hall has produced some of the best sports personalities including Benjamin Azamati (an Olympian based in US), Prince Quartey (Sri Lanka Premier League), Isaac Bawa (LA Galaxy, US), Aminu Adisa Abibu (Aschaffenburg basketball club, Germany) among others.
About 40% of the University of Ghana sports team are from Mensah Sarbah Hall. We are the Hall of fame in sports. Rejoice Agbewodie set a new record after a javelin throw of 44.95m while Sarah Adjorkor Adjei powered triple jump to set a new record of 9.94m during the 2023 University of Ghana Inter-Halls athletics competition.
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