[1][3] Per the account of German church historian, Hans Werner Debrunner, the founders of the school were the missionaries West Indians, Alexander Worthy Clerk and Angolan-born Catherine Mulgrave of Jamaica in addition to the German-educated Americo-Liberian George Thompson.
[1] A decade and a half earlier, four Basel Missionaries of European heritage had arrived in the Danish Protectorate of Christiansborg in the Gold Coast.
[1][4][5][6][7] In nineteenth century colonial Ghana, Salem referred to the section of town inhabited by the European Christian missionaries of the Basel Mission.
[1] The concept of having a living quarters and a school was replicated in other towns on the Gold Coast including Akropong, Abokobi, Peki, La, Teshie, Odumase, Ada Foah, Kibi, Abetifi, Nsaba among others.
[1] When the locals of Osu refused to pay a poll-tax imposed by the British administration in 1854, colonial forces bombed the town using the warship, "H.M. Scourge" for two days which destroyed the existing infrastructure of the school and many private homes.
[1] Other subjects taught included English and Vernacular (Ga), Arithmetic, Geography, History, Religious Knowledge, Nature study, Hygiene, Handwriting and Music.
[1] In the colonial era, the school's alumni went on to become leaders in law, politics, public service, business, medicine, finance, engineering, artisanal craft and several other fields.
The subjects taught include languages including English, French, Ghanaian languages such as Ga and Twi, mathematics, natural science, social studies, religious and moral education, basic design and technology (home economics, graphics & pre-technical skills), information and communications technology (ICT) and physical education.