Accra, April 2, GNA - The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on Wednesday appealed to the government to set up an independent inquiry to investigate activities of the School Feeding Programme, which they claimed, was in "complete shambles".

The CJA also alleged that the programme had become an avenue "to steal state resources" at the expense of the public and to the disadvantage of school children.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a leading member of the CJA, flanked by other members including Mr Kwamena Ahwoi and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah, alleged that there was corruption, maladministration, nepotism and patronage in the management of the programme.

Referring to an audit report of the School Feeding Programme issued by Pricewaterhousecoopers (PWC) in 2006, Mr Pratt claimed funds amounting to 36,345.9 GH cedis that the secretariat of the programme had claimed to have transferred to 10 districts were not received by those districts.

He said the audited reports revealed that contracts were awarded to non-existent companies and no Business Registration Certificates were found on the files of some companies.

"These companies were selected although they had no track record of engaging in similar activities as required in our procurement laws." Mr Pratt said the PWC reported that some suppliers operated as two different companies though they appeared to belong to the same people. He gave example as Godish Enterprise and Kaldal Limited which had the same VAT invoice numbers and called for the disclosure of the owners of these two companies.

Mr. Pratt also cited other issues including inappropriate award of contracts, forged signatures and appointments without following due process in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2003 as well as inflated school enrolment figures.

According to Mr Pratt, the audit report revealed that enrolment figures had been inflated in schools in the Central, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions resulting in more funds being transferred to those districts than they deserved.

CJA, therefore, asked that all those who were known to have committed fraud or other criminal offences should be prosecuted. He also called for the dismissal of the Executive Chairman of the School Feeding Programme without delay.