Hon. James Klutse Avedzi, the MP for Ketu North and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee has summoned representatives from the Ghana Buffer Stock Company and the Free SHS Secretariat to appear before the committee to address the food supply shortfall at Amenfiman Senior High School.
This call was made during the committee’s investigation into the Auditor-General’s Report for 2023, which focused on the operations of District and Municipal Assemblies, Technical Universities, Senior High Schools, and Colleges of Education in the Western and Central Regions.
According to a statement from Parliament, the investigation revealed that the Buffer Stock Company failed to provide Amenfiman SHS with the necessary quantity of food items, raising concerns about the adequacy and reliability of food supply to educational institutions.
“This situation has further compelled the school to underfeed the students. However, the School Authorities explained to the Committee that, there has been a challenge to determine the number of food items that have to be supplied to the schools, adding that they now use a WhatsApp platform where you can access information regarding the number of food items”.
Parliament
According to the statement, Hon. Avedzi emphasized the necessity of meeting with representatives from the Buffer Stock Company to clarify the issues and circumstances that led to the shortfall in food supply to Amenfiman Senior High School.
He stated that understanding the root causes of this supply gap is crucial not only for addressing the immediate concerns of the school but also for ensuring that similar issues do not arise in the future. Hon.
Avedzi expressed the committee’s commitment to holding the Buffer Stock Company accountable for its responsibilities and ensuring that students have consistent access to the food resources they need for their education.
He underscored the importance of transparency in the supply chain and the need for collaborative efforts to rectify any inefficiencies that may have contributed to the problem.
PAC Chair Highlights Serious Loopholes in School Food Supply Process
Furthermore, the PAC Chair, Hon. James Avedzi, indicated that this is a serious issue, noting, that parliament saw a lot of loopholes in the process for the supply of food items to the school.
Hon. Avedzi highlighted the importance of addressing these systemic flaws to ensure that food supply processes are efficient and reliable.
In light of these concerns, the Public Accounts Committee has directed both the Free SHS Secretariat and the Buffer Stock Company to appear before the committee on October 15, 2023.
“In his closing remarks, the PAC Chairman expressed appreciation to all the officials who appeared before the Committee from the Regions for the one-month probe into the Audit Report, 2023 emphasizing the need for all the Institutions cited on different counts of infractions to commence implementing all the recommendations before PAC presents its final recommendations to Parliament”.
Parliament
According to the statement, Hon. James Klutse Avedzi also instructed that the management of the Gomoa East Assembly be surcharged due to their failure to produce an HP laptop and five boxes of rain boots for audit inspection.
The auditors reported that the HP laptop, purchased in November 2018 for GH¢3,980.00, had been issued to the Head of Budget without the necessary documentation, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the assembly’s operations.
Hon. Avedzi emphasized the importance of proper record-keeping and accountability in the management of public resources, stating that such lapses not only undermine the integrity of the assembly but also hinder effective governance.
He underscored that the public deserves to know how resources are managed and utilized, especially when it comes to funds allocated for essential items.
According to the statement, Hon. Avedzi aims to send a clear message about the need for diligence and responsibility in public service, ensuring that all resources are accounted for and used appropriately to benefit the community.
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