Kofi Asare, Executive Director of African Education Watch (Eduwatch), has urged Ghanaians not to blame Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum for apparent food shortages in several Senior High Schools (SHS) around the nation.
According to him, the current difficulties are the consequence of the Ministry of Finance’s refusal to allocate sufficient funds to pay food suppliers to schools.
Responding via Zoom to questions on JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, Kofi Asare stated that the Education Ministry and the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) have put in place cautious rules and cash flow estimates to guarantee that the SHS continues to operate smoothly.
He stated that the Finance Ministry’s failure to release the necessary funds to pay the food suppliers made it impossible for them to purchase and distribute food to the schools.
“Look, until the Finance Ministry makes a point of releasing funds to suppliers on a regular and timely basis, it will be difficult for this shortage issue to end because they cannot continue borrowing money to buy food stocks at huge sums for supply in the schools,” said Eduwatch’s Executive Director.
Mr. Asare advised that the food component of the Free Senior High School be scrutinized and that parents who can afford to pay be encouraged to do so.
