Teachers at the Adjena Senior High Technical School in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region have accused the PTA Financial Secretary, Selorm Osabutey and the PTA Chairman, Dr. Acheampong Kwakye of allegedly misappropriating their PTA Extra Fees of any amount of over GH¢100,000.
Awake News has sighted a report of an Audit Committee constituted by the School chaired by Isaac Ayeh to investigate the missing cash stated that the PTA Financial Secretary, Mr. Osabutey “should be charged with embezzlement of PTA funds” and “Criminal actions should be taken against Selorm”.
The Isaac Ayeh Committee also recommended among other things “That the PTA Chairman should be charged with negligence of duty with respect to ensuring that monies collected got to the bank”.
The aggrieved teachers accusing the Headmaster of the School and the School’s management of given their blessings to the actions of the PTA Chairman and his Financial Secretary who is also a teacher in the school.
The background
Awake News has learnt that at the later part of 2019 academic year at a PTA meeting, it was agreed by Parents, Teachers, and Management to hold extra classes for students at Adjena Senior High Technical School.
It was thus agreed that the SHS 3 students numbering about 850 pay GH¢200 each whiles SHS 1 and 2 students numbering about 570 and 120 respectively pay GH¢100 each.
According to some teachers who spoke to Awake News on condition of anonymity, it was agreed that the money from the extra classes will be shared among the staff and PTA.
The share (40%) for PTA was to be used to construct a kitchen for the school whiles the 60% used to remunerate teachers for the classes.
“In December 2019, a new administration with a substantive Headmaster, Mr. James Affadu, Mr. Kweku Bakah (Assistant Head of Administration) and Mrs. Evelyn Oforiwaa Duah (Assistant Head of Academics) took office. This school management and the PTA implemented the decision of the classes and started it in January 2020.” – the aggrieved teachers told Awake News
COVID-19 factor:
The Covid-19 disrupted school activities and “during the COVID-19 break, the Dr. Acheampong Kwakye (PTA Chairman) and Mr. Selorm Osabutey (PTA Financial Secretary) decided to use the money collected to continue the PTA project without the knowledge of the staff.”
This according to our sources angered the teachers hence called for an emergency meeting on 22nd June, 2020 after the COVID-19 break, for the PTA Chairman to brief the staff on the classes’ money.
“Mr Selorm Osabutey (PTA Financial Secretary) was called to account for the money but to our surprise, he said there is no money.” – the teacher said
The teachers indicated that their surprise however was that “The work done so far on the kitchen for the school will not amount to GH 12,000 when valued.”
Adjena Senior High kitchen PTA project
This was what necessitated the formation of the audit committee to investigate the issues.
The work of the audit committee:
The after its investigations has noted that GH¢68,610.00 was collected from the students out of which GH¢ 49,385.00 was spent but was quick to add that the committee’s work covered only the payments made by the SHS 3 students.
“Not all receipts books used in collecting the money were made available” and “Some receipts were issued and signed by students” – portions of the report said.
They recommended that “Further class verification for form 1 and 2 should be carried out when they report [when form twos and ones report to school] by another committee.”
Responses
The Headmaster of the School, Mr. James Affadu, and the PTA Chairman, Dr. Acheampong Kwakye though confirm the issue declined comment on the matter saying the issue is before the District Director of Education.
Mr. Selorm Osabutey also said he cannot comment on the matter as it is before the Regional Director of Education but wondered why it was believed he alone and a common teacher can embezzle GH¢100,000
The Asougyamn District Director of Education, Mrs. Theodora Kutorkor Entee confirmed the issue to Awake News but said the matter has been reported to the Regional Director of Education adding that the money involved is not GH¢100,000 as being speculated rather GH¢46,000. She also indicated that the money is being recovered from the officials indited but failed to mention the amount that has so far been collected.
Mrs. Kutorkor Entee was asked if she was sure the allegations of the financial embezzlement leveled against the PTA Chairman and the Financial Secretary is the issue currently before the Regional Directorate as Awake News has only sighted a query directed at one of the aggrieved teachers with no reference to the alleged financial misapplication but she has since declined further comments.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com
