The recent arrest of five individuals for stealing food items meant for the feeding of students in the Atebubu Senior High School is a reflection of the moral decadence and lack of empathy among some school authorities in Ghana.
Former President John Mahama once described the food served to students in some schools as unfit for his dogs. While we may disagree with him on some issues, his sentiments on this matter cannot be disputed. Students deserve to be fed with nutritious meals to support their academic and moral development.
It is disheartening to see that some school authorities entrusted with the care of students engage in such crass criminality by stealing food items meant for the students. It is even more alarming to note that this may just be a tip of the iceberg of a larger problem across the country.
We commend the efforts of the whistleblower who brought the food theft to light. We urge other Ghanaians to emulate this act of patriotism by reporting any similar occurrence in their communities.
It is essential that the law is applied to the fullest extent against those found guilty of such a despicable act. This will serve as a deterrent to others and ensure that students receive the food items meant for them under the free SHS programme.
We call on Municipal Chief Executives across the country where boarding senior high schools exist to collaborate with security agencies to police the food stores of such institutions. This will help prevent future incidents of food theft in schools.
All in all, food theft in schools is not only an absurd act but also a criminal offense. It is our collective responsibility as Ghanaians to ensure that students receive the proper care they deserve in schools. We must condemn such acts of moral decadence and work towards eradicating them from our educational institutions.