Chairman of the group, Kamel Yusif, explained that their protest was necessary due to what they describe as challenges bedeviling the school feeding programme under the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

[contextly_sidebar id=”HJfvYMhtQCiLFxyiZXueSPzhmjDQy79u”]“The youth has realized that, the school feeding programme is not going the way we expected. We realized that when we sit down and allow things to go the way they are, the School Feeding Programme will not succeed particularly in the northern part of Ghana.

“When we conducted our investigations, those who have been given the monitoring appointment should be reporting to the Minister herself not the Regional Coordinator. We also have close to ten ethnic groups, but the monitoring appointment was given to about five individuals and one ethnic group. We thought that the appointment should have been fairly distributed,” Mr. Kamel explained.

The group on Monday October 16, 2017, chased out the Regional Coordinator and staff, and locked up the offices over what they call unfair allocation of schools in the region to caterers.

But Mr. Kamel on Eyewitness News strongly defended the group’s decision, saying “we know we are doing the right thing. We are not doing anything that is against anyone’s rights.”

“We love the party (NPP) and whatever we will do to make sure that the party succeeds, we will do it.”

He further dismissed suggestions that, the group has threatened to beat up School Feeding caterers who ignore their warnings, adding that the group locked up the regional office and not district offices of the programme as earlier suggested.

Group’s earlier concerns

The group’s Chairman, Mohammed Kamil, in a Citi News interview had early on, accused the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, of hijacking the allocation exercise.

He posited that, she allocated five schools each to her cronies, and also designated them as monitors.

This, according to Mohammed Kamil, has created tension in the region, hence the group’s action.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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However, the National Secretariat of the GSFP is working on the reconciliation of the transactions executed within the last two academic terms between the GSFP caterers, and MASLOC, suppliers of rice, maize and catering equipment to caterers on credit in the 2016/17 academic year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AYtEpXt1OhL82jpO43jQSFK56DV1Ke9y”]“There is the need for us to conduct proper and diligent reconciliations in order to pay accurate amounts to the caterers,” Madam Afisa Djaba stated on Wednesday when she led a team to visit pupils of South LA Estate Primary School in Accra on their “my first day at school” programme.

She has therefore assured caterers under the GSFP that “Payments due them for the second and third terms of the 2016/17 academic year will be honoured by the end of September, 2017”.

“My first day at school” was instituted some few years ago by the Ghana Education Service to enable government functionaries and top education officers interact with pupils who are attending school for the first time.

The total enrollment of the South La Estate Primary School for the 2017/18 academic year is about 720, however, over 500 had reported as at the time of the visit with the kindergarten admitting 18 pupils and Class one having 35 pupils.

Madam Afisa Djaba further urged Caterers and Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies to exercise restraint and cooperate with the National Secretariat of the GSFP to ensure speedy payment.

“We assure all stakeholders of government’s commitment to sustain the programme and improve the delivery of quality meals to beneficiary pupils.”

“The School Feeding Programme is going to be extended to over 5,000 schools, which will also be increased by 30 per cent. Government has agreed to increase the feeding amount from the previous 80 pesewas to 85 pesewas for quality meals to be served the beneficiaries,” she said.

According to the Gender Minister, to sustain the programme, home-grown rice would be used this academic year, adding that “Rice will be supplied to caterers in the various districts through the Ministry. This is a facility aiming at improving upon the quality delivery of food served the pupils”.

Madam Afisa Djaba expressed the hope that the programme would encourage pupils to stay in school, and called on teachers to be committed and show love to the pupils.

The Gender Minister and her team including Dr. Kwame Adu Nsiah, the National Coordinator of the GSFP, interacted with the pupils, and advised them to be disciplined, take their studies serious and stressed that it was important for them to attend school regularly.

Madam Mary Amasah, the Headmistress of South LA Estate Primary, lauded stakeholders for the School Feeding Programme, which had increased enrollment and retention in basic schools.

She therefore appealed that the programme be extended to the Junior High department of various public schools as there were equally students in need at that level as well.

–

Source: GNA

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At an orientation workshop for caterers in Upper East Region held in Bolgatanga, a nutritionist with the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Lauisa Adda, hinted that the ministry intends to provide caterers who may be financially constrained rice from the market to cook for beneficiary pupils in the basic schools.

But the caterers say not only is the GHC180 cost per bag of rice too expensive, but the quality of the rice cannot be guaranteed.

Thus they want to be allowed to procure their own foodstuff without interference.

“…They say we should buy from our local farmers, now they are saying that they are going to bring us rice from somewhere. The local rice in the market is GHC7.00 per bowl, and 16 bowls makes a bag which is cheaper than the rice they are bringing for us at GHC180,” one caterer said.

Another caterer added that “we can buy from our own local farmers in our various districts and also the cost they are giving to us GHC180.00 is more expensive than the cost in the market ranging from GHC110 to 130, so they should allow us to buy from the farmers so that they can also gain from the government.”

Luisa Adda assured that the grievances of the caterers will be presented to the sector minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba for consideration.

She also said monitoring mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that beneficiary pupils are fed with quality meals.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to them, government must set the pace by buying locally grown rice for the ordinary Ghanaian to follow.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QqGB8klYIcvvu3sNL3MqG70Bi5CvMlUa”]Speaking at a National Rice Standards and Certification Workshop, the president for GRIB, Imoro Amoro, said the sector could employ many Ghanaians if made in Ghana rice is highly patronized.

“We want to appeal to the government to use its purchasing power to procure made in Ghana rice for all government agencies especially the prisons and schools benefiting from the school feeding programme. This will create jobs and strengthen the country’s economy by saving over five hundred million dollars used in importing rice annually.”

Mr. Imoro urged stakeholders to cash in as the local rice business expands.

“There is the need for stakeholders to take advantage of the huge potentials available in the rice value chain. Intensification of production through transplanting (SRI) and the use of good quality seed hold the potential for -increased incomes for farmers. Ensuring good processing methods such as cleaning and de-stoning must be adhered to for good quality rice to be produced and well packaged to meet standards and be competitive with the imported rice.”

He also praised Citi FM for its tremendous input in promoting made in Ghana rice, saying “we also want to commend the media especially Citi FM for always supporting the agenda of Eat Ghana Rice and patronage of our local products. I will also take the opportunity to seek for sponsorship from our partners, rice producers and marketers, the corporate body for “Eat Ghana Rice Campaign and this year’s Ghana Rice Festival in November.”

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Addressing women and vulnerable groups in Bolgatanga during a familiarization tour of the Upper East Region, Afisah Djaba was optimistic of government’s commitment to settling all its debts.

“Concerning the caterers’ arrears, the previous NDC administration owed school feeding for 75 cooking days, we didn’t complain; but the NPP government has made provision for GHC114 million to pay the arrears, also for this year, GHC200 million has been set aside for the school feeding programme.

“…So for caterers that we owe, government will certainly pay you; but it will not be immediate because the processes have to go through. So I am pleading to  all caterers we owe that, the processes have started; and we will work on it as soon as possible to ensure that, those who did not cook for the 75 days we will deduct your monies and those who cooked throughout the 75 days, we will pay off your arrears. we are doing this to ensure value for money.”

Madam Djaba also hinted that, the contracts of the caterers with government under the school feeding programme, will come to an end in July 2017, and that government will advertise for interested persons to apply.

She also said that, foods grown under government’s Planting for food and Jobs programs will be prioritized to feed pupils under the programme.

Madam Djaba said the initiative will boost the morale of women and small holder farmers, and the since there will be ready market for their produce under the programme, it will reduce poverty in Northern Ghana.

Meanwhile, some caterers who spoke to Citi News, expressed worry about the politicization of the school feeding programme, adding that, they may not be considered, since they were perceived to belong to the opposition NDC.

They also added that, if government does not  fast track the payment of their arrears, some may not be able to cook when schools reopen on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

Madam Djaba added that, 50 percent of MASLOC will be dedicated to women empowerment, whiles 30 percent of government initiatives will be targeted at women.

–

By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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While not mentioning specific institutions and names, the chairman of the commission, Justice Senyo Dzamefe was emphatic about their independence.

“This morning we received a letter from the [Ghana Football Association] addressed to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honorable  Mahama Ayariga  and copied to us,” he said on Monday at the first sitting at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The letter, Justice Dzamefe said, was dated August 7 and signed by Fifa Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner.

The world football governing body’s letter sent last Thursday addressed its unease at the insistence on the government of Ghana to look into the Black Stars performance at the World Cup – but the Commission would not admit that their comments were aimed at Fifa.

“I want to state categorically that we are not intimidated by anybody,” Justice Dzamefe insisted.

Postponement

Meanwhile the commission has postponed its sittings  to Wednesday August 13.

The two other members of the commission are lawyer and veteran sports broadcaster Moses  Foh-Amoaning  and  Kofi   Anokye Owusu Darko, rescheduled to allow the institutions subpoenaed ample time to prepare before taking  their turns before the commission.

Four state-institutions were to be present at Monday’s sittings but only three showed up. The Bank of Ghana failed to show up for reasons that remain unclear but the Finance, Foreign Affairs and Sports ministries sent representatives.

Citi News’ Pearl Akanya Ofori reports that the atmosphere at the venue was expectant, but ultimately disappointing as no hearings came off.

Background

In the wake of Ghana’s poor show at the recent World Cup, the Sports Ministry set up a three-member committee to investigate matters of player indiscipline and some poor decisions by the management team, as well as general poor performance in the tournament.

However, President John Mahama later upgraded the setup from a committee to a Commission of Inquiry.

Article 279 of Ghana’s constitution says such a commission “shall have the powers, rights and privileges of the High Court or a Justice of the High Court at a trial.”

In the eyes of Fifa, this simply means the GFA could be on trial from a High Court, which may go contrary to their rules of engagement with member associations.

–

By: Pearl Akanya Ofori/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @pearlakanya

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According to the newspaper report, “the President of Ghana’s Football Association agreed for the team to play in international matches that others were prepared to rig. ”

This was revealed after an undercover investigation by The Telegraph and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

The report further stated that it cost “$170,000 (£100,000) for each match organised by the fixers involving the Ghanaian team, and would allow a bogus investment firm ​to appoint match officials, in breach of Fifa rules.”

Find below the full story…

Ghana has been exposed as agreeing to take part in international football matches organised by match fixers.

An undercover investigation by The Telegraph and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme found that the President of Ghana’s Football Association agreed for the team to play in international matches that others were prepared to rig.

The team is currently competing in the World Cup finals in Brazil, and on Saturday pulled off a 2-2 draw against Germany, in what was seen as one of the most entertaining games of the tournament so far.

However, it can now be revealed that the African team had been lined up to play in international fixtures whose results would be fixed by corrupted officials.

The Telegraph and Channel 4’s Dispatches launched a six-month investigation into match-fixing after receiving information that some football associations were working with criminal gangs looking to rig scores in international games.

Reporters from The Telegraph and a former Fifa investigator claimed they represented an investment company that wanted to “sponsor” games. Christopher Forsythe, a registered Fifa agent, along with Obed Nketiah, a senior figure in the Ghanaian FA, boasted that they could employ corrupt officials who would rig matches played by Ghana.

The president of the country’s football association then met the undercover reporter and investigator, along with Mr Forsythe and Mr Nketiah, and agreed a contract which would see the team play in the rigged matches, in return for payment

The contract stated that it would cost $170,000 (£100,000) for each match organised by the fixers involving the Ghanaian team, and would allow a bogus investment firm ​to appoint match officials, in breach of Fifa rules.

“You [the company] will always have to come to us and say how you want it to go…the result,” said Mr Forsythe. “That’s why we will get the officials that we have greased their palms, so they will do it. If we bring in our own officials to do the match…You’re making your money.”

“You have to give them [the referees] something… they are going to do a lot of work for you, so you have to give them something,” said Mr Nketiah, who is also the chief executive of the Ghanaian football club Berekum Chelsea and sits on the management committee of the Ghana U20 national team.

Mr Forsythe said that match fixing was “everywhere” in football and that he could even arrange rigged matches between Ghana and British teams. “The referees can change the matches every time. Even in England it does happen,” he said. Following the meeting in London, the representative of the investment firm asked if his company could be sure their approach would work.

Mr Forsythe replied: “We will always choose associations/countries that we think we can corrupt their officials for all our matches.”

He listed a number of African and European countries, adding “we can look for match officials who will sing to our tune”.

Mr Forsythe and Mr Nketiah then introduced the undercover reporters to Kwesi Nyantakyi, the president of the Ghana FA, at a five-star hotel in Miami earlier this month shortly before his team played South Korea in Miami before heading to Brazil.

During the meeting in Florida, the president agreed to a contract that stated each match would cost the investment company $170,000 and that they could appoint the match officials for each game. A contract was drawn up that specified that “The Company will appoint and pay for the cost of the referees/match officials in consultation with an agreed Fifa Member association(s),” in direct breach of the rules that prohibit third parties from appointing officials, in order to protect their impartiality. During the meeting, the president suggested that the fictional investment company put on two matches after the World Cup to prove that they were able to organise games.

​“So why don’t you arrange matches?” said Mr Nyantakyi. “Let’s say there should be an experimental period for us to see how we do your work? There is an opportunity in August, and then in December, but I don’t know about that. But these months appear to be the only time that we can have any opportunity to play friendly games.”

When a reporter asked if the president was happy with the contract, as long as it reflected the experimental period he had requested, he replied, “Yeah these are the issues that I’ve got with it.”

“So we can work on that with a trial game?” asked the investigator.

“Yeah,” replied the president.

Premier League stars were due to play in matches which will not now take place.

Ghana’s football stars include the ex-Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and former Tottenham Hotspur player Kevin-Prince Boateng, although there is no suggestion that either, or any other player, is involved in match-fixing.

Last week saw the first convictions in the modern era of criminals in this country for attempting to rig football matches, following an earlier investigation by this newspaper.

Chann Sankaran and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, businessmen from Singapore, and Michael Boateng, a former professional footballer, were found guilty after a six-week trial.

Sankaran and Ganeshan were sentenced to five years and Boateng 18 months. Sankaran and Ganeshan have links to the notorious international match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, and were said to be attempting to establish a network of corrupt footballers in Britain.

Last month, The Telegraph revealed police concerns over attempts to fix a game between Nigeria and Scotland that was due to be played in London. Officers from the National Crime Agency, Britain’s equivalent of the FBI which investigates organised crime, are understood to have asked Fifa to issue an alert over attempts to rig the game.

Terry Steans, a former Fifa investigator, said that the World Cup is “vulnerable” to match fixing.

“I know that the World Cup is vulnerable to these criminal gangs because they have existing networks of contacts at all levels inside the game and they will look for any vulnerability they can find to exploit,” he said.

“Match-fixing is widespread. It is happening at every level and in many countries. Match-fixing syndicates with criminal intent have infiltrated all levels of football and sport from national, regional and onto international. Fifa needs to do more.”

The revelations will heap further pressure on Fifa, which is facing huge controversy over its management of international football. Over the last month, Sepp Blatter, the president of Fifa, has faced calls to stand down after it emerged the former Qatari executive committee member had made millions of dollars in payments to Fifa officials.

In March, The Telegraph revealed that the same official had paid Jack Warner, one of the people that participated in the decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup, $1.2 million shortly after the vote.

When they were confronted about their operation, both Mr Forsythe and Mr Nketiah denied any involvement in a plot to fix matches. Mr Nketiah said: “These are false allegations and I will never in my life do such a thing.”

As part of a statement, Mr Forsythe, said: “To be frank everything I told you about the match fixing was a figment of my own imagination because I am so naive that I don’t even know how matches are done. They were promises just to be able to get something off you.”

Mr Nyantakyi said that he had not read the contract and he did not know about the deal to fix games. He said that the proposed match would have been handled by a licensed Fifa match agent and that he was unaware that Mr Forsythe had demanded £30,000 for the football association.

Credit: The Telegraph

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