MP fingers feeding officials for corruption

The MP for Tamale Central, Lawyer Inusah Fuseini, has accused managers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme of misappropriating about 3 billions cedis.

Speaking to Joy News, Lawyer Fuseini, who buttressed his allegations with documents and letters from the Ministry of Local Government, said the money has been misapplied for other purposes.

He said: “When funds are released to a public agency, the funds are released for the purpose of carrying out specific projects and that whoever has the money is to implement those specific projects. If the money are diverted for other purposes… then the officer has misapplied the money.

Lawyer Fuseini alleged that the officials requested for ¢1.5 billion for the purposes of paying 2400 cooks for March and April. He said: “As we speak today they have not paid the cooks.”

He further alleged that though the Ministry of Local Government rejected an initial proposal by the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) to purchase some kitchen items, the latter went ahead to purchase kitchen input far beyond its market price.

“Today I can say the GSFP has purchased from the fund ¢2,595,291,7440 for the purposes of purchasing kitchen items. The programme has gone ahead to purchase kitchen input far beyond the amount they requested for,” he said.

Lawyer Fuseini said the Programme has also committed ¢200,000,000 for directional signboards, which was not in the original request. He dared the GSFP to disclose how the contract for the purchase of the kitchen input was awarded.

He said the law requires government agencies to tender any contract beyond ¢50,000,000 for biding but that aspect of the law was flouted in this particular case.

Lawyer Fuseini called on the Minister of Local Government, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng to probe the GSFP for misappropriation of fund.