Kintampo SHS headmaster accused of extortion

Headmaster of Kintampo Senior High School (KINSS) in the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr. Ata Amponsah-Frimpong, has been accused of extorting monies from his students.

Sources close to the school told Today that Mr. Amponsah-Frimpong connived with some staff members of the school to over-bill first year students who were about 722.

Each student, the source disclosed, was asked to pay an extra Ghc100.00 aside from their school fees for the provision of mono desks.

But ever since the students paid that money, the source said, no new mono desks have been brought into the school.

Even though the students were issued with receipts bearing a name of a company called ‘God First Furniture Works,’ Today gathered that the students were instead given plastic chairs to use.

The said plastic chairs, according to our investigations, were meant for staff members and also during Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meetings.

Our checks at the school further revealed that some properties belonging to the school including roofing sheets and computers had been shared among loyalists of the headmaster.

That, according to some staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has been affecting computer classes.

The source also alleged that Mr. Amponsah-Frimpong has introduced a new position in the school called ‘Senior Form Master’ where he has put one of his loyalists in charge whom the source claimed receives monthly allowance.

The headmaster, Today further gathered, contracted some teachers to use any means (fair or foul) to assist his students who just finished the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSE).

But in their attempt to smuggle foreign materials into examination halls, the source said, luck eluded them, as they were prevented from doing so by the external invigilators.

And when one of the teachers, Mr. Kwabena Sarkodie, who was against this act, spearheaded by the headmaster, attempted to advise him [the headmaster], he immediately caused his transfer from the school.

Earlier, when Today called the headmaster on phone to respond to the allegations, he said: “I am not prepared to speak to the press. I belong to the GES and we have a public relations directorate.”

He added: “I don’t care about whatever fact you have at your possession. In GES we have our code of conduct and as a headmaster I am not permitted to speak to the press.

“We have been told not to talk on air unless we get clearance from the Director General. So that is that. Whoever made the allegation must come to us then we sit down and talk,” he stressed.

Mr. Amponsah-Frimpong, who took over from Mr. James Odame Lartey, on October 27, 2014 was a former District Chief Executive (DCE) of Dormaa.