Tempers flared in the Sherigu community of the Bolgatanga Municipality on Monday morning as furious youth from the Basengo-Nyokoko Electoral Area stormed three public basic schools and forcefully locked up their kitchens, disrupting the Ghana School Feeding Programme in a fiery protest over what they say is political marginalization in the awarding of catering contracts.
The aggrieved youth, numbering over ten, targeted Sherigu Primary School, Basengo Primary School, and Nyokoko Primary School, halting the preparation of meals for hundreds of pupils.
According to them, not a single caterer assigned to the schools hails from their electoral area—despite residents applying for the contracts.
“This is unacceptable. These are our schools, and our people should not be left out,” fumed Atanga Ayine Oliver, spokesperson for the youth. “We will not allow ‘outsiders’ to cook here while capable locals are ignored.”
The protesters claim the community has been repeatedly sidelined in the distribution of public benefits, accusing authorities of favoritism and lack of transparency in contract allocations. They insist that at least one of the school kitchens be handed over to a caterer from Basengo-Nyokoko before they lift the blockade.
The situation has left many pupils without their daily hot meals, with fears mounting over the impact on school attendance—especially among children from vulnerable homes who rely heavily on the feeding programme.
One of the caterers affected by the protest is Stephen Akugre, the Presiding Member of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and Assemblyman for the neighbouring Kumblingo Electoral Area. Mr. Akugre confirmed the incident but declined to speak further, only noting that the matter has been reported to both the Municipal Chief Executive, Roland Atanga Ayoo, and the Regional School Feeding Coordinator, Fawzia Yakubu Abagnamah.
Attempts to reach Madam Abagnamah for a response proved futile, as her phone remained switched off at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, concerned parents and educators are calling for swift intervention from local authorities to prevent further escalation and ensure continuity of meals for the schoolchildren.
