The Conference of Heads of Assisted Schools in the Upper West Region have served notice that it will be forced to shut down Senior High School in the region by Friday 15th April,2022, if government fails to supply them with adequate food stuffs to feed the students.
CHASS in a press statement on 7th July,2022, after an emergency meeting held at the Queen of Peace Senior High School in Wa, said “the food suppliers contracted by the Buffer Stock Company and their local suppliers contacted to help out are all refusing to supply due to non-payment of outstanding monies owed for food supplied to the schools”
The group says the situation has led to serious food shortage in Senior High Schools in the region and that an “Assessment of the situation in most schools indicateted that most schools cannot go beyond one week if nothing serious is done about it”
They again say the inability of government to release enough money to the schools is making it difficult for them to ran the schools.
“The way money is trickling in is making it difficult to run the schools”
The group has therefore resolved to feed the students with what is available in their stores and asked students to supplement with their own suger and other items to the dining hall.
Candidates writing their WASSCE will be compiled to feed themselves or come from home to write the exams” if government does not supply food stuffs to the schools by 15th of July, 2022.”
The Headteachers have warned that if by the 15th, July, 2022, “sufficient money and food is not received in the schools, we will be compiled to tell parents and gurdians to either feed their wards or come for them since it will be impossible to continue feed them with nothing.”
Meanwhile they have suspended all sporting and cultural activities and any activity involving the use of money in all schools in the Upper West Region.
The Upper West Director of the Ghana Education Service have meanwhile forwarded the grievances of the Headteachers to the Director General of the service.
Our sources from other schools in the Upper East Region and the Northern Region indicate that the situation is widespread.
Many Headteachers are however tight-lipped over the issue for the fear of victimisation from their superiors .
By: Simon Agana Blessing/mywordfmonline.com