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The National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTAs) has called for the immediate closure of senior high schools (SHSs) across Ghana, citing severe food shortages and logistical challenges that have crippled school operations since reopening on January 3, 2025.
“Nothing is working in the schools. All the assurances from the previous government to support feeding and provide funds have not materialised,” said Raphael Kofi Gapson, General Secretary of the NCPTAs, in an interview with Daily Graphic.
Mr. Gapson noted that schools were unprepared to reopen due to constraints in food supplies, funding, and other essential resources.
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He criticised the government for failing to fulfil its promises under the free SHS policy, which he claimed had only been paid lip service.
Highlighting the dire state of affairs, Mr. Gapson explained that schools are receiving significantly less food than required. “If schools are entitled to 100 grams of food a day, they are being sent only 20 or 30 grams. How do they run the schools with such a deficit?” he questioned.
To bridge the gap, PTAs have been forced to step in, using their funds as a “special purpose vehicle” to provide critical support, including hiring extra cooks, security personnel, and funding additional programs such as extra classes, sports, and infrastructure projects. Despite these efforts, the challenges remain overwhelming.
The NCPTAs’ concerns echo earlier warnings from the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS). Ahead of the January reopening, CHASS urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to postpone the date until the government settled outstanding debts for food, transportation, and operational costs.
In a December 31, 2024, statement, CHASS disclosed that their repeated appeals since August 2024 for payment of arrears had gone unanswered. The school heads instructed regional branches to inform parents about a possible delay but faced sanctions for any non-compliance.
While Mr. Gapson acknowledged the attempts by CHASS to support schools, he criticised the association for previously serving as a political tool to suppress critical information. “Finally, CHASS came out with the right verdict by acknowledging its long-standing issues with the government over feeding and funding challenges,” he added.
Mr. Gapson argued that keeping schools open under such conditions was detrimental to students’ welfare and education quality. “We should have closed down the schools and told the students to return home. This would allow us to fix the mess and create a more conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning,” he said.
He emphasised the urgency of convening key stakeholders to address the crisis, noting that the basic school level also faced significant challenges, including capitation grant arrears for over two and a half years.
“We prefer our students being home in our custody so that they can be well-fed and safe,” he concluded, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for swift intervention.
