Wa, May 9, GNA - A Home Economics block provided about five years ago for the Lawra Senior High School to begin a Home Economics Programme had still not been put to use because the contractor had refused to supply the furniture.

The Ghana News Agency investigations had revealed that on April 16, 2006, a payment of GH¢14,099.9 was made to Dawud Mark and Brothers Company for the supply of furniture to the newly constructed Home Economics Block.

The project, which was executed by the same contractor in 2006, went beyond the 18 months duration for completion. A source from the Lawra Senior High School expressed regret that the furniture had not been supplied and without the furniture the programme could not start. The source said out of the 13 items that the contractor was billed to supply, he was able to supply only five of them, which were also not up to the required numbers. The school authorities claimed that they were not aware until the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) started to investigate the matter last year April.

According to the Headmaster, he thought with the involvement of EOCO in the matter, there would have been a positive outcome, but expressed regret that since last year, nothing concrete had been heard. The investigations revealed also that Internal Auditors from the Ghana Education Service came from Accra to inspect the project but disapproved of the commencement of the Programme. "The auditors rejected the project and objected to the school running the programme because the newly constructed block has not been furnished and will inconvenience students if they are to use the block", the Headmaster said.

The Headmaster said, he had written a petition to be given to the A and Q consultancy through the Regional Coordinating Council to prompt them of the delay of the matter. The school authority has therefore appealed to the EOCO to fully investigate the matter and bring back the contractor to complete the project to allow the school to start the programme this academic year.