Tabloid News of Friday, 23 August 2002

Source: Chronicle

Two Students Bolt With ?millions At Sunyani Poly

Financial malfeasance and misappropriation have rocked the Sunyani Polytechnic (S-Poly), as some leaders of the student body have squandered millions of cedis belonging to the polytechnic.

The culprits, Messrs. Samuel Adu, an Accountancy III student, and Godfred Apraku-Tufour, Marketing III student have been suspended by the school authorities for one year.

Chronicle investigations established that the two corrupt students collected various sums of money from students at the polytechnic with the promise of providing them with hostel accommodation at the polytechnic.

Each room, which is supposed to accommodate 10 to 15 students was packed with 20 to 25 students by these hall presidents, making it impossible for them to enjoy a decent living.

The poor students who are in need of accommodation were made to pay between ?80,000 and ?120,000 above an approved hostel fee of ?70,000.

Our investigations revealed that having collected the monies, the two failed to submit the monies totaling ?10.6 million to the polytechnic authorities.

At the campus of S-Poly, this reporter sighted a document on the notice board titled 'Discipline of Students', indicating the suspension of the two students, effective August 16, 2002.

The said document urged the students to refund the monies by September 1, else the authorities would take appropriate action against them.

Apraku-Tufour who is a marketing III student is to cough up ?8,675,000 with his counterpart at the accountancy section, Adu, is vomiting ?1,945,000.

They were instructed to hand over any polytechnic property with them to their Resident Tutor by 9 a.m. on the same August 16.

When our correspondent called on the Principal, he was told that he had traveled.

The registrar of the polytechnic however stated that since the Principal was not there he had no comment on the issue.

He was to address a question from this reporter on the appropriate action to be taken if they failed to produce the money by September 1, as indicated on the notice board.