OLA Girls SHS Headmistress Admits GH¢357,000 Feeding Fund Diversion Before PAC

The headmistress of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls Senior High School in Kenyasi, Ahafo Region, has admitted before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that GH¢357,000 allocated for student feeding was used for other operational expenses.

Madam Beatrice Adongo made the revelation during PAC proceedings in Kumasi, where the committee examined financial management practices in senior high schools across the country.

She explained that although the decision was irregular, it was taken due to financial pressure facing the school, which made it difficult to sustain operations without redirecting part of the funds.

According to the Auditor-General’s report, the school received GH¢682,000 for feeding, but only GH¢324,000 was spent on food for students, while the remaining GH¢357,000 was used for other expenditures.

The committee also uncovered similar cases in five other senior high schools, including Hwidiem SHS and Acherensua SHS, raising wider concerns about accountability in the management of public education funds.

Chairperson of the PAC, Abena Osei Asare, warned school authorities against the misuse of earmarked funds and stressed the need for strict adherence to public financial management regulations.

She further urged the Ministry of Education to address delays in the release of funds, noting that such challenges often contribute to unauthorized spending decisions by school administrators.

The revelations come amid ongoing challenges affecting Ghana’s Free Senior High School feeding programme, which continues to face funding and supply constraints.