AI lauds action at School Feeding Programme

Accra, April 25, GNA - Amnesty International-Ghana on Friday commended government for taking "swift measures" to restore sanity at the School Feeding Programme (SFP) secretariat.

It has also asked President John Agyekum Kufuor to ensure that corrective measures including retrieval of lost resources, as well as measures that are punitive enough to deter others, are taken. "Certain crimes, such as this, are rather too bitter to merit the general Biblical saying "Go and sin no more", it said in a statement signed by Mr Michael Brigandi, Director.

Amnesty said the SFP programme was a giant step to ensuring access to education by all, more so poor families, adding that the programme might have attracted many parents to send their children to school, especially the girl-child.

"It is common knowledge that education of girls is often sacrificed for that of boys by parents who cannot afford to educate both children. "The situation at the School Feeding Programme is a stab in the back of the government's access to education policy and Amnesty International's Safe Schools for Girls Campaign."

The government on Wednesday relieved the Chief Executive of the SFP, Dr Kwame Amoako Tuffour of his post prior to reorganisation of the programme.

The Committee for Joint Action had called for the removal of Dr. Amoako Tuffour and prosecution of those found to have been involved in malfeasance at the programme.

It followed an audit report by pricewaterhousecooppers that pointed out several lapses in the running of the programme. Amnesty International commended all those who helped to reveal the malpractices at the SFP, such as the auditors, the Committee for Joint Action and the committee set up by the president, saying it was only through such collaborative actions that corruption could be effectively dealt with.