Gertrude Quashigah, the late National Coordinator of the School Feeding Programme, passed away on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the age of 63.
Recognized not only for her prominent role as the coordinator of the National School Feeding Program but also for her significant contributions to Ghana’s food sector, Gertrude Quashigah also served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Ambar Quality Foods Limited.
Throughout her tenure as the National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, she played a crucial part in ensuring that children across the country had access to nourishing meals. The program’s objective was to enhance school enrolment, attendance, and retention while promoting the overall health and well-being of students.
However, beyond her instrumental role, a few notable instances during her time made headlines, primarily involving clashes with the then Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Safo, among others.
Gertrude Quashigah’s role as National Coordinator of the School Feeding Programme was revoked by the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Under the directive of the then minister, Sarah Adowa Safo, Quashigah was instructed to surrender documents and government assets within her charge to the Chief Director of the ministry.
While the letter did not specify the precise grounds for her dismissal, the gender ministry lodged several accusations against the late Gertrude Quashigah.
“There are a lot of issues bedeviling the programme under her watch including non payment of caterers, poor working relationship with directors of the programme and her deputy, taking unilateral decisions without consulting the minister,” the letter stated in part.
Just 72 hours following the minister’s initial termination of Madam Gertrude Quashigah’s appointment, a reversal was made on the decision.
The minister issued a statement rescinding the decision and instructed the late Gertrude Quashigah to recommence her responsibilities as the National Coordinator of the School Feeding Project.
“I write in respect of the above subject matter. This is to inform you of my decision to withdraw my earlier letter dated 18th May 2021. I wish to state that my earlier letter was as a result of administrative error,” the statement read.
Sara Adwoa Safo expressed concerns regarding the purported lack of cooperation from Gertrude Quashigah during an ongoing audit of payments to caterers within the school feeding program.
As a result, the gender minister promptly directed Gertrude Quashigah to promptly provide the auditors with all pertinent documents and to actively collaborate with the audit process.
On October 17, 2021, Gertrude Quashigah revealed a notable disparity in her relationship with Sarah Adwoa Safo, the then Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, unlike her connections with former ministers Otiko Djaba and Cynthia Morrison, which she described as cordial and respectful.
Quashigah mentioned that, despite her appointment by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, she had not yet engaged with Adwoa Safo, despite her attempts to establish a dialogue with the ministry under which her directorate functioned.
She recounted an instance where she spent over six hours at the ministry without meeting Adwoa Safo, indicating the lack of interaction between them.
Moreover, Quashigah had testified before the Dzamefe Commission in 2014, post the World Cup in Brazil. Her company had been contracted to provide meals for approximately 300 football fans who traveled to Brazil to support the national team, the Black Stars, during the tournament.
During her testimony, she highlighted inflated prices for the food items she procured. Quashigah emphasized the exorbitant figures quoted for the food items, particularly referring to an occasion where items were allegedly valued at $37,720.
She also disclosed that the $91,800 allocated as pocket money for 612 supporters sent to cheer the Black Stars in the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup was deducted from the caterers’ budget, but the supporters never received it, nor were they informed about this deduction.