Afi Adzagbo Rejoice, School Feeding Coordinator-Volta Region
The Volta Regional Coordinator of Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Adzagbo Rejoice Afi have squandered revenues meant to provide free food for forty-six thousand seven hundred and fourteen children (46, 714) of some Ghana’s poorest parents.
At least GH₵ 3,016, 676.57 million cedis have been stolen from Ghana School Feeding and have enriched the Volta Regional Women Organizer cum Coordinator for the School Feeding Programme and her cronies for no work done.
Overruled by insatiable greed, Adzagbo Rejoice entrusted with oversight responsibilities, have managed to create pennames to generate EZswitch accounts to receive grants meant for Caterers cooking for One Hundred thirty-nine (139) schools across the region.
46,714 children bearing the brunt
A seven-page report on Volta Region by the scheme intercepted by this newspaper revealed how fraud is negativing the efforts of government in the provision of free food for children at the basic level on the educational ladder.
The scheme of fraud is simulated in fourteen out of sixteen regions and in most districts. They’ve deliberately mapped up strategies and stratagems including wrong payments to Caterers, over payment to Caterers, non-existing schools and differences between Caterer’s name and EZswitch account of Caterers for wealth accumulation leaving the poor children to famish.
This broad daylight thievery of public funds by officials in the regions is hurting the country’s efforts to ease the burden of poor parents.
The fraudulent activities of individuals carefully selected to spearhead the president’s vision is fast becoming a mirage since officialdom has decided walk the path of rapacious wealth construction for themselves and their immediate families.
The report is based on inspections, interviews in the Region with Caterers, Teachers, Pupils, and local residents.
It was discovered that the dreams of the children in these 139 schools totaling over forty-six thousand have been denied. Their entitlement as children of African Eldorado have been stolen by greedy leaders.
Already, we have issues relating to the nutritional value of the meals and the hygienic conditions surrounding the food to contend with.
Sack Adjagbo, group tells Akufo-Addo
Some concerned Caterers on March 22, 2021 asked the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, to investigate, arrest the Volta Regional Women Organizer, Adzagbo Rejoice and release her off her duties as School feeding coordinator over corruption.
Besides, the group under the aegis of Concerned Caterers, a coalition of women, also asked the National Coordinator for School Feeding to commence investigations and prosecution of the regional coordinator over alleged corruption.
They have accused Afi Adzagbo of verbally abusing them for no just reasons. To them, Afi come across as a very arrogant and disrespectful who is neck-deep corrupt practices with regards to school feeding in the Region.
According to them, Afi has illegally or wrong made payments to people while benefiting Caterers are left to wallow without pay.
The group listed twelve schools under Ketu South Municipality that are benefiting from school feeding without necessarily cooking.
They reported the under listed schools to the presidency as schools not providing food but constantly receiving grants.
- AFLAO E.P PRIMARY, 2. ADAFUENU R.C BASIC 3. TACKSCONER BASIC, 4. ADINA BASIC, 5. SOMEY NATIONAL, 6. AN-NADWUTU ISLAMIC, 7. BLEKUSU R.C BASIC, 8. DENU R.C BASIC, 9. AKPORKPLOE BASIC 10. AGBODOKOPE BASIC, 11. AFLAO S.S PETER&PAUL BASIC, and 12. BLEKUSU A.M.E ZION
Several Caterers are wailing for non-payment contrary to the press release by Ghana School Feeding Programme, claiming they have only one outstanding payment to be made, and that is in respect to hot meal.
Meanwhile, Adzagbo Rejoice has instructed all Caterers under her jurisdiction to submit their names to Desk Officers for payment.
In a voice audio posted on their WhatsApp platform, Afi said, “Let me repeat this to you all caterers who have started cooking in schools this year without being authorized by region or National, none of you will be on our documents. I don’t know who gave you approval to go and cook. We have heard that some of you on your own volition have started cooking in schools and you know yourselves, I don’t want to mention the districts. I have been asked by National to let you know that, none of you will be paid.
However, she called on Old caterers from 2019/2020, whether they’ve cooked or not, go to their various desk officers and let them include their names into the data”.
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