We’ll deal with you if you attack school food trucks—Apaak warns public
Clement Apaak, a former Ranking Member on the Education Committee of the 8th Parliament has cautioned the public against any interference with trucks delivering food supplies to Senior High Schools (SHSs).
Speaking on Thursday, January 16, Dr. Apaak said the ongoing food distribution process, which President Mahama ordered targets over 900 schools across Ghana.
The distribution, he said, was in response to the food crises in SHSs and TVET institutions.
Dr. Apaak added that the food distribution process is managed by a high-level team, including the Chief of Staff, the Parliament, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ghana Education Service, with security playing a central role.
“The Flagstaff House is coordinating this assignment. Military trucks are being used to move the food, supported by trucks from the Ghana Police Service and private volunteers who have offered their trucks free of charge,” he added.
On this note, he said, “Let no one attack any truck or think that these food items are being smuggled.”.
“There will be security escorts accompanying the rice from Tema warehouses to the various destinations. Should anybody try to interfere, the law will deal with them.
“This is a directive from the President, and we are taking security very seriously. Nobody should try to interfere with this process,” he warned.
This follows widespread reports of food shortages in various senior high schools, forcing the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to appeal to parents and guardians to supplement their children’s food supplies, as the National Food Suppliers Association cited its inability to deliver food to schools.
The suppliers blamed the situation on the absence of a clear payment plan and uncertainty over whether the current administration will honour arrangements made by the previous government.