Hon. Sarah Adwoa Sarfo
On Thursday (May. 20), Ghanaians woke up to a reality that may have been new to them but may be familiar in the corporate world: a takeover of the oversight responsibility of Minister of Gender and Social Protection.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reportedly arrested the authority of Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, and instructed her to render unqualified apology to the wife of late Major Courage Quarshigah, and restore her appointment with speed of light.
Gertrude Quashigah was on Tuesday 18th May 2021 relieved of her duties as the National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
A letter addressed to her from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and signed by the sector Minister, directed her to hand over any official documents or property in her custody to the Chief Director of the Ministry.
Though no reason(s) was given for her removal in her sack letter, this paper can report authoritatively that it has everything to do with the challenges associated with the School Feeding Program.
Before the Ghanaian public could settle on how to celebrate Adwoa Sarfo for her valor and temerity to fire Mrs. Quashigah, she (Adwoa Sarfor) has overturned the sacking of the Ghana School Feeding Coordinator.
According to the Dome Kwabenya Legislator, her earlier letter dated 18th May 2021 was a blunder.
In a letter addressed to Mrs Quashigah titled: ‘Withdrawal of Termination Appointment’ and dated Thursday, 20 May 2021, twenty-four hours on, Adwoa Sarfo said: “I write in respect of the above subject matter”.
“This is to inform you of my decision to withdraw my earlier letter dated 18 May 2021”.
“I wish to state that my earlier letter was as a result of an administrative error”, she stated.
But a letter intercepted by The Hawk newspaper raises concerns about the lack of co-operation from Gertrude Quashiga in an ongoing audit of payments to caterers under the school feeding program.
The Gender Minister subsequently ordered Gertrude Quashiga to immediately furnish the auditors with all relevant documents and co-operate with the auditors.
“It has come to my notice that your office has been uncooperative and not forthcoming with the submission of relevant documents to support all payments made to caterers in all the regions and districts for the 2017 to 2020 academic year.”
“I am by this letter, requesting you to submit same to our team of auditors before May 14, 2021,” excerpts of the letter read.
However, a source has told The Hawk that the reversal of the termination of the appointment came after the presidency intervened after news of Mrs Quashigah’s sacking broke.
The source took pains to stress that the presidency had not carried out a coup against the Minister but instead was acting to quell tensions following the sacking of Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah.
We can further report that the Hon. Minister has been barred from introducing corrective actions in her new ministry.
This was contained in a letter delivered to her from the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Mrs Quashigah was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo in December 2019.
The appointment was communicated to Mrs Quashigah by the President’s Executive Secretary Nana Asante Bediatuo via a letter dated 24 December 2019, which said: “I’m pleased to inform you that the President has appointed you as the national coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection”.
“The terms and conditions of your appointment shall be communicated to you by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, who, by this letter is duly notified of your appointment”.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment”.
Mrs. Quashigah was officially named the National Coordinator of the programme on December 24, 2019, to replace Dr. Kwame Adu-Nsiah.
Dr. Adu-Nsiah was suspended in December 2018 over allegations of corruption in the management of the school feeding programme.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme is an initiative of the comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme Pillar 3, which seeks to enhance food security and reduce hunger in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs) on hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
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