Our Foundation
Built on a legacy of excellence, resilience, and faith
About BHOBU
The Bishop Herman Old Boys Union (BHOBU) is the global family of old boys of Bishop Herman College (BIHECO), Kpando, united by a shared heritage, enduring brotherhood and a commitment to the continued growth and development of our alma mater.
Founded on the values of faith, discipline, academic excellence, service and leadership, Bishop Herman College has, over the decades, produced men who have distinguished themselves in Ghana and beyond. BHOBU exists to preserve that legacy, strengthen the bonds among old boys, and provide a platform through which former students can contribute meaningfully to the present and future of the College.
Our Heritage
Bishop Herman College was established in 1952 through the vision and efforts of the Catholic missionaries who sought to provide quality secondary education in the Volta Region. The College was named after Bishop Herman, reflecting its Catholic foundation and its enduring connection with the Catholic Church.
From its early beginnings, the College has grown into an institution renowned for academic excellence, discipline, character formation and the development of responsible leaders.
For generations, the green and gold of BIHECO have represented more than a school. They represent a brotherhood, a tradition and a legacy of excellence.
BHOBU is the custodian of that brotherhood.
School History
Lakeside UniversityBirth of A Centre of Excellence: The Story of Bishop Herman College
In the late 1940s, the Catholic Vicariate of the Lower Volta—now segmented into the Keta-Akatsi, Ho, and Jasikan dioceses—voted to establish a premier boys' secondary school. The institution was named Bishop Herman College (Biheco) to honor Bishop Augustine Herman, the first bishop of the vicariate.
Foundational Legacy
Hailing from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, Bishop Herman earned widespread renown for tirelessly traversing the Trans Volta Togoland on foot and by bicycle to evangelize and establish mission schools, thereby laying the groundwork for Catholic education in the Volta Region. He passed away in 1945, leaving behind the personal motto Sicut Miles Christi (As a soldier of Christ), which the college proudly adopted.
Vision to Reality
Although Right Rev. Joseph Gerald Holland initiated the project, ill health forced him to return to England in March 1950 before construction began. The responsibility of executing the vision thus fell to the Vicar-General, Rev. Fr. Anthony Konnings (who later succeeded Bishop Holland).
The Founding Team & Pioneer Era
The team put together to realize the dream included:
· • Rev. Fr. Gerard Hombergen of St. Augustine's Parish, Hohoe
· • Rev. Fr. John Beckers, the bursar of the diocese
· • Rev. Fr. Joseph Giesen of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando
The team toured towns and villages soliciting funds and encouraging parents. In January 1952, Rev. Fr. James Myerscough conducted entrance examinations, selecting 26 pioneer students. Biheco officially opened as a private Catholic institution on February 28, 1952, operating out of the old Mission House and chapel at Kpando-Tsakpe.
Growth and Relocation
In 1953, the school welcomed its second batch of students alongside Mr. Conrad Etu-Mantey—affectionately dubbed the 'Methuselah' of Biheco—who taught continuously until his retirement in 1988 (35 years of service). By 1954, rapid expansion forced the school out of the Tsakpe mission compound. The Chiefs and people of Kpando-Aloyi granted the current hilltop land overlooking the Volta Lake—earning the school its famous moniker, the 'Lakeside University'.
Rev. Frs. Brokhoff and Van Gastel built the campus's inaugural structure (the Castle/Giant/Elephant Block), while Brother Xavier engineered the campus's subsequent major infrastructure. The institution completed its permanent relocation to the Dzigbe Hill site in 1956.
Rooted in the resilient, pioneering spirit of Bishop Herman and its determined founders, Biheco has evolved into a celebrated bastion of academic distinction, athletic achievement, and spiritual development, proudly standing atop the hills of Aloyi against every adversity.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a united, vibrant and forward-looking alumni community that strengthens the bonds of brotherhood among old boys while contributing to the advancement of Bishop Herman College.
We are committed to:
Fostering lifelong brotherhood among old boys, regardless of year group, profession or location.
Supporting the growth and development of Bishop Herman College through strategic initiatives, resources, expertise and partnerships.
Promoting excellence, leadership and service, in keeping with the values and traditions of our alma mater.
Creating opportunities for mentorship, professional networking and collaboration among old boys and between alumni and current students.
Promoting the welfare of members and building a stronger support system within the BHOBU family.
Preserving and celebrating the history, traditions and heritage of Bishop Herman College.
Engaging the next generation and inspiring current students to uphold the standards and values associated with the Bishop Herman name.
We believe that the strength of BHOBU lies in the collective strength of its members. When generations of old boys unite around a common purpose, our individual achievements become a collective force capable of transforming our alma mater and positively impacting society.
We honour the past. We serve the present. We build the future.
Our Vision
To be a united, vibrant and globally connected alumni community, recognised for its enduring brotherhood, excellence, leadership and service, and for its transformative contribution to the continued growth and development of Bishop Herman College.
We envision a BHOBU where every generation of old boys remains meaningfully connected, where knowledge, experience and resources are shared freely, and where the collective strength of the fraternity is harnessed to create lasting opportunities for our members, support our alma mater and inspire generations yet unborn.
"Sicut Miles Christi" — Like a Soldier of Christ