BNI arrests SHS Matron, four others for stealing free SHS food

The Matron of the Danyaaseman Senior High School (SHS) and four other staff in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have been arrested by the BNI for allegedly stealing and selling some foodstuff belonging to the school.

The matron, Theresa Akoto Essel, her assistant, Store Keeper and other security men in the school were arrested they were transporting the foodstuff allegedly stolen from the school.

According to otecnews’ local reporter Nana Tabi who disclosed this unfortunate act explained that Mr. Ibrahim Boabeng, the NPP Youth organizer for the constituency was hinted that the matron of the school and her assistant, the storekeeper as well as some security men have been selling some of the school foodstuffs to some of the stores in the community.

Reports say, the youth organizer set up surveillance to monitor their operations.

Upon hearing the recalcitrant Matron and her accomplices offering some eggs for sale, Mr Boabeng sent a mole to buy11 creates of eggs with the cost of GHc 40.

Our Sources say when the accused met the complaint, the woman who was set up to buy from the matron at a specific location, the youth organizer and some of the police officers ambushed them and subsequently arrested them.

Upon feather interrogation, the Suspects mentioned the names of storekeeper, the matron and her assistant as well as the securities on duty when the incident occurred. The accused persons are currently in Bekwai BNI custody pending further investigations

The Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, last weekend warned that

Government is determined to punish severely, anyone whose actions and or inactions negatively impact on the smooth implementation of the Free Senior High School programme.

The Free Senior High School policy is a major flagship programme of the New Patriotic Party government, began in September 2017. However, there have been reports of pilfering by some school authorities of the free food supplied by the government, as well as the charging of unapproved fees by some school heads.

In perhaps the most high profile of the reported thefts, the Police Criminal Investigations Department invited Madam Comfort Oduro Bruce, senior matron and Reverend Abraham Donkor, headmaster respectively of Ghana Senior High School popularly known as GHANASS in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, to assist in investigations after Madam Oduro Bruce was allegedly caught by a member of the school’s security attempting to cart away a number of food items at night.

Matrons at the Buipe and Tolon Senior High Schools have also reportedly been arrested for allegedly trying to steal and sell food meant for the feeding of first-year students in their care.

Giving the warning at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of Nana Boakye Tromu III as Omanhene and President of the Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Council in the Brong Ahafo Region Saturday, Dr Bawumia said the government would move beyond naming and shaming to the actual prosecution to deter any saboteurs.

“In spite of many challenges and doubts, we have successfully started the implementation of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme. We need to ensure that no Ghanaian child is denied access to public secondary education. Poverty should not be a barrier for children to have access to a better future.