‘School Feeding Is Collapsing’

The former Volta Regional School Feeding Programme Coordinator, Alhaji Issah Yakubu, has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of collapsing the school feeding programme.

Alhaji Yakubu, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE in Ho, noted that since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) left office in 2008, the 40 pesewas per child allocation had not been increased.

He said caterers were being charged illegal five percent on every allocation.

“This is sheer greediness and inhuman. How can you charge five percent out of 40 pesewas per child?” he said.

The levy is being used to support the activities of the ruling NDC. That notwithstanding, the coordinators also solicit food items from caterers, he alleged.

He said the caterers had abandoned the programme as a result of inadequate and inconsistent allocation, stressing that monitoring of caterers twice yearly, de-worming of children, orientation of caterers and basic measurement have been abandoned.

Alhaji Yakubu challenged the media to investigate the matter to establish the “gospel truth.”

The firebrand NPP activist described Kwesi Pratt, the Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper as a hypocrite.

“The person who surprises me most is Kwesi Pratt. After publishing falsehood about the programme when it started, he went mute immediately the NDC took office.

If he is not a hypocrite, he should take his camera again…go round and find out the progress of the school feeding programme which he claimed he monitored over four years ago.”

“I dare him to investigate it and the whole country will be shocked.”

Alhaji Yakubu also lambasted President Mahama for not ensuring proper supervision of the programme.

According to him, President Mahama criticized the programme while in opposition.

The former School Feeding Coordinator could not fathom why Ama Benyiwa Doe, the Central Regional Minister, who insulted programme coordinators and caterers, had failed to comment on the situation.

He said “if for nothing at all, Ms Benyiwa Doe should be telling Ghanaians what her NDC has done to make it better at least in her region.”

Alhaji emphasized that “this is not politics, but blatant truth and I dare anyone to tell me it is a lie and I will give them sacred evidence.”