The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Education Committee, Joseph Kumi, has condemned the alleged diversion of food supplies meant for students, describing the development as “terrible” and calling for strict action against those involved.
His comments follow the arrest of the bursar of Ghanata Senior High School, Lamisi Sarah, over the alleged diversion of food provisions intended for students.
The Member of Parliament for Shai-Osudoku and Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, confirmed the arrest, stating that credible reports received in recent weeks indicated that the bursar had been diverting portions of food supplies meant to support student welfare and nutrition.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, February 21, Mr Kumi said the incident was not isolated.
“The case did not happen only in this school. When the president took over office, some schools had written to the president, they even delayed in reopening school because they had no food. Parents had to provide extra food and provisions for their wards before they could go to school. The president had to order that all warehouses with food should release them to the schools,” he stated.
He recounted additional incidents in other regions, alleging that food supplies meant for schools had been intercepted.
“That moment they did that, in the Volta Region, when the food was on its way — a car carrying canned tomatoes and some rice offloaded into a private vehicle. They were caught,” he said.
“Same way, in the Upper West, a matron was caught with food. This development is terrible. How can we be doing this to our children? Now the children are on a balanced diet, and now the workers there want to be taking the food away from them. There are still bad nuts in the system. These people should be dealt with,” Mr Kumi added.
He stressed the need for stronger oversight and accountability within the school feeding and food supply chain to safeguard the welfare of students.
Ghanata SHS Bursar arrested over alleged food supply diversion
