A Ghanaian School Tradition

 By Comfort Konadu Owusu-Ansah

The Senior High School (SHS) metal trunk first arrived in Ghana during the missionary era of the 1840s as a simple, durable iron vault meant for boarding students.

Metal Trunk (Source: Prospectus Ghana)

Back then, it was just a simple iron box meant to keep boarding students' items safe. Fast forward to today, the heavy metal box is still a strict requirement on almost every SHS prospectus across the country. What started as a simple way to keep out pests and water has become a major rite of passage for every new student.

This long tradition is rooted in local skill. According to local history, a Ghanaian craftsman traveled abroad, learned how to make metal items, and came back home to build the very first trunks using hammers and basic tools. He taught other local blacksmiths, turning the trunk into a daily necessity for students and a solid source of income for local workers.

Mr. Samuel folding an unfinish trunk

So, why has the metal trunk lasted so long? The main reason is safety in crowded dormitories. Mr. Asiedu Alfred, a teacher and Senior House Master at Tema Technical Institute, explained: "The metal trunk is strong, affordable, and built to last, unlike plastic or fabric bags, these trunks have stopped theft in our dorms over the years and it also makes all students look equal, so no student looks richer than the other."

Apostle Henry hammering the edge of a sheet for a new trunk

When admission lists come out, local makers also make good money. Apostle Henry, a trunk maker in Jamestown, said: "Every year when school placement comes out, sales jump massively. We build them by hand, and parents come from everywhere to buy for their children or to sell in large quantities.

Madam Joyce a trader at the Zenu market says, ''I sell pepper but each time the children start writing BECE, I work extra hard in other to get money to go and purchase the trunk as a wholesaler to sell at the market because I make more profit in that season''.

Dr. Peter Anti-Partey, Executive Director for the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), gave an insight saying while many boarding schools have improved over the years trunk still remains unchanged.

 Even with these concerns, the metal trunk is not going away anytime soon. For many old students, the trunk is full of memories, it serves as a desk, a chair, and a safe box for personal items. ​Whether you see it as an old heavy box or a proud student tradition, one thing is clear, the SHS metal trunk is here to stay. It is more than just iron, it is a piece of Ghanaian history that every student carries.