The campus of Kokrobite D/A primary school in the Ga South municipality was thrown into a state of pandemonium when a class six teacher Mr. Blessed I Amissah, returned from a brief staff meeting only to realize his bag had been tampered with and his seven hundred Ghana cedis taken away.
A fervent search was mounted by the school authorities amidst pleas to anyone who might have picked the money to return it, but all this fell on death ears. What is most fascinating is that all the pupils were in class at the time the money was stolen since it wasn’t time for break. Yet, none of them have been able to volunteer information as to who might have picked the money.
Subsequently within the day, some students were tasked to go and burn refuse at the schools refuse damp. This is where it was uncovered that the juvenile thief had hidden the money but it was quite belated since the refuse had been set ablaze. ‘In the course of the burning they (pupils) realized that the money which was in a rubber was burning’ Mr. Amissah said. The money that could be retrieved amount to a peanut of ninety Ghana cedis.
What is most dramatic is that, the student left a note in the polythene with the money which reads ‘Sir I took only ten cedis from it’. This was accompanied with his name which is being withheld for obvious reasons.
In an interview with this reporter, the teacher said pictures of the burnt money had been taken and the money left has been sent to the police as evidence by the head teacher.
At a time where all in this country are concerned about the level of corruption and outright thievery by public officials, this incident has sent shivers down the spine of not only the members of staff but well meaning residents on this area. Hon. Ben Aikens in whose jurisdiction this school is situated is worried beyond measure at why a child would have the drive to steal money especially to that tune.
The school is yet to report the incident to the parents of the child; this reporter will keep you updated with this story as it unfolds.
Joseph Oswald Ali
Freelance Journalist