The management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has debunked media reports levelling “unfounded” allegations against the Secretariat.
The Weekend Crusading Guide newspaper in a report attributed to one Caroline Aboagye accused management of the Programme of fraud and called on the government to “overhaul” its leadership.
But the Public Relations Officer of Ghana School Feeding Pogramme, Siiba Alfa, said the “allegations were palpably false, baseless, frivolous, unfounded and malicious.”
He added the GSFP has a very transparent payment process that conforms to standard public financial procedures.
“We wish to put on record that the current leadership of GSFP is not corrupt. In fact, the corruption allegation levelled by one Madam Caroline Aboagye who claims to be the PRO for a group called ‘Ghana National School Feeding Caterers Association’ against the leadership of GSFP is only a figment of her imagination since she woefully failed to adduce any speck of evidence to support her monstrous allegations. We believe, it is rather Madam Aboagye who needs a thorough overhauling not the GSFP Secretariat.”
Below is the full rejoinder issued by GSFP
RE: ‘School Feeding Needs Overhauling’
The attention of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) National Secretariat has been drawn to a front-page story in the Saturday September 10, 2021 edition of the Weekend Crusading Guide newspaper, under the headline “School Feeding Needs Overhauling”. The headline and the inaccurate facts and contradictions in the story together painted a picture which was completely at variance with the current status of the Programme.
The allegations were palpably false, baseless, frivolous, unfounded and malicious. It was only calculated to tarnish the image of the leadership of GSFP and bring the name of the secretariat into disrepute.
It is unfortunate that the newspaper also failed to contact Management of GSFP before carrying out this false publication. In view of this, we request that the Editors of the newspaper give this rejoinder the needed urgency and prominence to correct the wrong impression that was created about this important national programme, which exists to serve the children and farmers of our dear nation Ghana.
We wish to put on record that the current leadership of GSFP is not corrupt. In fact, the corruption allegation levelled by one Madam Caroline Aboagye who claims to be the PRO for a group called ‘Ghana National School Feeding Caterers Association’ against the leadership of GSFP is only a figment of her imagination since she woefully failed to adduce any speck of evidence to support her monstrous allegations. We believe, it is rather Madam Aboagye who needs a thorough overhauling not the GSFP Secretariat.
We have a very transparent payment process that conforms with standard public financial procedures. Thus, the feeding aspect of the programme has a separate account, which is lodged at the Bank of Ghana in the name of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP). The National Secretariat of GSFP only facilitates payment by coordinating the process which involves the Ministry of Finance, Controller and Accountant Generals Department, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and finally, the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) which electronically transfers the feeding grants to caterers on their e-zwic cards. Given this robust structure, it is extremely difficult if not impossible for the GSFP leadership to divert funds meant for feeding to be used for private gains.
It is also preposterous and misleading for Madam Aboagye to claim that the GSFP Secretariat has been working with their so-called association. We state unequivocally that until this irresponsible, unguarded and reckless utterances in the press, we were unaware of the existence of their ‘rented association’ let alone recognize it. We emphasize again that as far as GSFP implementation rules and regulations were concerned, we did not and would not sanction the formation of any association under the programme and so if any caterer or group of caterers claim to have an association, then they are merely exercising their constitutional right, but they should avoid using the programme to secure credibility for their selfish interest.
We strongly urge all media houses to be circumspect in their reportage on this laudable programme. The media must endeavour to cross check their facts from GSFP Secretariat on issues relating to the implementation of the programme in order to avoid publishing unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations on this commendable and one of the largest social intervention programmes which is currently feeding 3,448,065 vulnerable school children in all the 260 districts nationwide.
We also call on our caterers, stakeholders and the general public to support and cooperate with the GSFP in its quest to achieving its mandate of feeding the future leaders of our country with one hot nutritious meal on every school going day using locally grown food stuff in order to boost domestic food production and increase the income capacities of our gallant farmers.
Issued By:
Siiba Alfa
(Head of Public Relations)
