Sarah Adwoa Safo the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya and a former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection has blown an alarm on alleged ghost schools added to the school feeding program.
Adwoa Safo who at a point served as a former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection alleged widespread corruption and mismanagement within the School Feeding Programme.
She further dared authorities to release an audit report she conducted during her time as the sector minister on the school feeding programme.
In an interview with OKAY FM, Adwoa Safo, revealed that former President Akufo-Addo initially requested an audit but later detached himself from it.
She revealed that Akufo-Addo ordered the audit immediately after her appointment, even before funds were allocated to the ministry.
However, she claimed that after significant irregularities were uncovered, she faced resistance, marking the beginning of her challenges in office.
According to Adwoa Safo, a former coordinator of the programme, the late Madam Gertrude Essie Quashigah refused to cooperate with the audit process despite multiple invitations.
She further alleged that Madam Gertrude Essie Quashigah later proposed a scheme to add ghost schools to the programme for personal gain, which she bluntly refused.
Adwoa Safo revealed that the late Madam Gertrude Essie Quashigah revealed to her that she had done some for some past people who benefitted from the ghost schools.
Despite these challenges, the audit was completed, and a report was submitted to the Cabinet for onward presentation to the President.
However, she claimed the report was shelved after public criticism and claimed Akufo-Addo attempted to distance himself from the audit report as if he did not order it.
Speaking on OKAY FM, Adwoa Safo stated, “I am telling you the audit report is there, they should release it for Ghanaians to know, bad deeds, the rots and the corrupt practices that were going on in the School feeding. Because of that if you Adwoa Safo will not play we will make sure you will be ousted”.
“The woman came to my office and told me that she could help me make money by adding ghost names to the School Feeding Programme. She claimed she had done some before for other people, and so I should stop the unnecessary staff she could work with me. I refused and walked her out of my office”.
She further added that most of the rot uncovered in their audit report was from the Central region and dared that if they claim she is lying they should release the audit report.
Adwoa Safo added, “Later, they brought several reports for me to sign so they could withdraw money they claimed was for feeding children. But at the time, we were in lockdown, and no cooking was taking place. When I refused to sign, they reported me to Jubilee House. That was when they started Adwoa Safo was not coming to when”.
Even World Bank money came at the time the children were not in school during COVID-19 and I also refused to sign it, during lockdown time parents were home with their children with nose masks which children were fed”.
She further stated that former President Kufuor with the right mind came up with the School feeding programme but they turned it into a playground for corruption.
Meanwhile, the Madam Gertrude Essie Quashigah family has expressed deep disappointment over allegations made by Adwoa Safo.
In a statement signed by Isaac Aidoo, Esq on behalf of the family, they labelled Adwoa Safo’s claims as “unfounded and unfortunate,” at a time when their mother is no longer alive to defend herself.
According to the family under Madam Quashigah’s leadership, the GSFP witnessed significant expansion, improved nutrition, and better welfare for schoolchildren nationwide.
“It is deeply painful that such accusations are being levelled against our mother at a time when she can no longer speak for herself.
These remarks have caused distress, not only to us, her children but to all who respected her contributions to national development,” the statement read.
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Release the audit report on the school feeding programme – Sarah Adwoa Safo dares#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/E4M2NtzYks
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) March 20, 2025
