Former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has alleged widespread corruption and mismanagement within the School Feeding Programme, revealing that former President Akufo-Addo initially requested an audit but later distanced himself from it.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Okay FM, the former Dome-Kwabenya MP stated that Akufo-Addo ordered the audit immediately after her appointment, even before funds were allocated to the ministry.
However, she claimed that after significant irregularities were uncovered, she faced resistance, marking the beginning of her challenges in office.
According to Adwoa Safo, a former coordinator of the programme refused to cooperate with the audit process despite multiple invitations.
“I put together a solid audit team who went to the regions. I invited the coordinator several times, but she refused to show up. When I called her, she told me she wasn’t happy with me. She even said if she had any concerns, she would take them to the powers that be and refused to provide essential documents,” she said.
She further alleged that the same coordinator later proposed a scheme to add ghost schools to the programme for personal gain, which she refused.
Despite the challenges, the audit was completed, and a report was submitted to Cabinet for onward presentation to the President. However, Adwoa Safo claimed the report was shelved after public criticism.