Five Arrested Over Theft of Food Supplies for Bono East Senior High Schools

The Bono East Regional Command of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) has arrested five individuals in connection with the theft of food supplies intended for distribution to Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the region. The suspects include Michael Damuah, Chief Store Keeper at Techiman Senior High School; his assistant, Madam Rebecca Twum Yeboah; Yaw Owusu, owner of the Kia Rhino truck used in the theft; Kwabena Opong, the truck driver; and Emmanuel Alexander, the driver’s mate.

The group is alleged to have conspired to steal 56 bags of 50-kilogram "Lucy-branded" rice, which were earmarked for Jema SHS in the Kintampo South District and Kintampo SHS in the Kintampo North Municipality. The arrest was announced by Bono East Regional Minister, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, during a press conference held in Techiman.

According to Mr. Adu-Gyan, the driver and his mate were apprehended on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Tuobodom. The stolen rice was discovered packed into two tricycles with registration numbers M-19-BA 1659 and M-21-BT 5901. The investigation revealed that the suspects had picked up the food supplies from Techiman SHS, a regional food distribution point, and diverted them instead of delivering them to the intended schools.

Mr. Adu-Gyan expressed disappointment over the incident, describing it as "sad and unacceptable." He emphasized that the suspects would face prosecution to deter similar misconduct in the future.

Further investigations by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) uncovered additional food items meant for student meals, including bags of millet, gari, maize, soya beans, sugar, and tom-brown, as well as cartons of milk, gallons of cooking oil, and large sachets of Choco Milo. These items were reportedly stored in an isolated room at the distribution facility.

The diversion of food supplies intended for students has sparked outrage, as it undermines efforts to provide adequate nutrition for SHS students in the region. Authorities have vowed to intensify monitoring and enforcement to prevent such incidents from recurring.

The incident highlights concerns over the integrity of supply chain management in the distribution of essential resources. With the suspects facing legal action, the Bono East Regional Minister urged stakeholders to prioritize accountability and transparency in handling government resources.

The arrests are expected to send a strong message to others who may consider exploiting distribution systems for personal gain. In the meantime, authorities have assured the public that measures are being put in place to ensure uninterrupted delivery of food supplies to the affected schools.