News
Payment of School feeding fee…a nightmare for parents
Despite the urge to ensure that every child goes to school, certain demands are making it impossible for a number of parents to ensure their wards remain in school for the five days of the week.
Among the demands is the payment of feeding fee for the wards on daily basis.
In recent times, the payment of feeding fees have become a nightmare for a lot of parent, especially those with two or three wards.
The Spectator checks with several parents from schools indicated that wards are charged between Gh¢15- Gh¢20 on daily basis for food served to the children.
For the parents, they see nothing wrong with the service but what was troubling them was the amount which they found exorbitant but attributed to the high cost of foodstuff.
Interestingly, such parents have a huge sigh of relief on weekends and public holidays, knowing they would be free from paying feeding fee.
It was on this premise that some parents hailed the additional holiday added to the celebration of Ramadan.
Mrs Anita Adu, a mother of three pays, Gh¢60 daily as feeding fee, amounting to Gh¢300 per week in addition to school fees, books, snacks and breakfast.
She was extremely happy about the recent holidays as she saved a total of Gh¢120.
A second parent (name withheld) who also pays the same amount per week shared similar challenges and wished that parents with more than two wards be given a discount.
Mr Maxwell Tetteh, is a single parent taking care of one daughter, said it was not easy paying Gh¢150 a week.
But the caterers also explained to The Spectator that they cannot be blamed for the increased prices of the food prepared for the school children.
Mrs Rosemond Owusu, a caterer, explained how foodstuffs have become very expensive and the struggle they go through to make a suitable budget for schools.
She said “Chicken for instance is sold for Gh¢10. So, if the caterer charges for Gh¢12 per plate, it means only Gh¢2 would be left for a plate of rice and the stew. Obviously the caterer would run at a loss.”
A Headmistress of a private school, who also spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity, explained that since some schools are unable to increase schools fees, they increase feeding fees and use the addition to support the payment of teachers’ salaries.
According to her, feeding fee should not be more than Gh¢15 because some parents have about three to four children in one school and pays so much.
The Headmistress, however, indicated that such increments must first be discussed at Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting for parents to be aware.
Mrs Evelyn Abbey, also a Headmistress of a private school, encouraged caterers to buy ingredients in bulk so that pricing of feeding fee will be less.
However, she said feeding fee was not compulsory as parents can cook for their children to school.
Another Headmistress of a public school, (name withheld) stated that due to economic hardship, not all parent can afford feeding fees.
According to him, lower income earning parents would always approach the school authorities on an impending holiday, knowing that it would be a day free of the dreaded feeding fee.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
A 29-year-old tricycle rider, Naah Mashood, has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a three-year-old girl at Tiegber in the Wa Municipality.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Upper West Regional Police Command arrested the suspect on February 24, 2026, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.
According to police, the convict, who had been contracted by the parents to pick the victim to and from school, lured her to an isolated location on February 23, 2026, and sexually assaulted her inside his tricycle, popularly known as ‘Camboo’.
After thorough investigations, he was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court and subsequently stood trial at the Wa High Court.
On October 30, 2026, His Lordship Justice Osei-Wusu found him guilty of defilement and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has commended the officers involved in the investigation and prosecution, as well as all persons who contributed to ensuring justice was served.
The Command urged parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children and ensure their safety at all times, and encouraged the public to report suspected cases of child abuse and defilement to the nearest police station or DOVVSU office for prompt action.
It further assured the public of its commitment to protecting children and ensuring perpetrators of sexual offences are brought to justice.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of three suspected members of a criminal syndicate believed to be behind a series of robberies targeting bank customers in Kumasi and its environs.
On October 31, 2026, at about 11:30 pm, an IGP’s Special Team, comprising personnel from the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters and the Accra Regional Police Intelligence Directorate (PID), acting on intelligence, embarked on an operation to apprehend the suspects.
The operation led to the arrest of two Nigerian nationals, Aboy Promise, 30, and Favour Uwalaka, 45, at a hotel at Moshie Zongo. A search of their rooms resulted in the recovery of GH¢1,600.00, assorted mobile phones, a Royal motorbike and a master key used to gain unauthorized access to victims’ vehicles to steal cash.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted their involvement in the robberies and mentioned two accomplices, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, and Kingsley, alias KC.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate monitored banking premises, identified customers who withdrew substantial sums of money and trailed them before attacking and robbing them. They also broke into unattended vehicles belonging to bank customers using a master key to steal cash kept inside.
The suspects subsequently led the police team to another hotel at Dechemso, a suburb of Kumasi, where Kingsley, alias KC, 35, also a Nigerian national, was arrested.
The remaining accomplice, Chinedu, alias Alhaji, is currently on the run. The Command is appealing to the public to volunteer credible information that could lead to his arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to report to the nearest police station or contact the police through emergency numbers 191, 112 or the toll-free MTN and Telecel line 18555.
The suspects admitted to robbing a victim of GH¢15,000.00 at Asokore Mampong on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after the victim had withdrawn money from Kwamang Rural Bank. They also admitted to similar robberies at the Atonsu branch of Fidelity Bank, the Ahodwo branch of Access Bank and other locations within Kumasi and its environs.
The three arrested suspects have since been handed over to the Ashanti Regional Police Command and are assisting with investigations.
The Command has cautioned bank customers to remain vigilant, be alert to suspicious persons around banking premises and avoid leaving cash or other valuables unattended in vehicles, while commending the public for their continued cooperation and assuring residents of its commitment to combating robbery and other criminal activities in the region.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
