Report by Nana POKU
The Minister of Education, Hon Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum has denied any wrongdoing in respect of the GALOP program and the World Bank money involved as had been wrongly reported in some media circles
Briefing the Press at his office in connection of misrepresentation and mischievous reportage of an alleged embezzlement of 1.2 million dollars from the World Bank in Accra, the minister vehemently denied any underhand dealing in the project.
Dr Adutwum indicated that the president developed the Ghana Accountability Learning Objective Project (GALOP) to improve teaching and learning in our basic and secondary institutions to improve on quality of education.
Upon discussion with the World Bank, it was agreed to train 40 thousand Ghanaian teachers. According to him the exercise was carried out by the technical division of the ministry and the World Bank CERTIFIED it and sent the money involved (1.2 m dollars).
He told journalists that the technical team at the ministry and Ghana Education Service undertook the training program and did a good job.
Strangely however, some tabloids picked on him and sought to tarnish his image by falsely accusing him of misappropriation of the amount involved with damaging headlines.
“The World Bank money is here at the ministry. It is intact in our account. Do you think l can misuse the World Bank money? Is that why l left my job in America to come and do here?” he questioned.
The minister who looked visibly worried and upset descended on the perpetrators whom he described as Faceless Destroyers who wanted his down fall.
“These people have embarked on a smear campaign to bring me down for their own parochial interest without seeking the interest of the Ghanaians,” he said.
He told the Press that he has love and passion for his role and to help the president to achieve his educational transformation agenda and wants to be part of that success story in future after he has left the ministry.
“It is unfortunate that in this country when you embark on a good project some people instead of encouragement, rather try hard to bring you down but some of us want to see the progress and total transformation of this country. Because I see politics as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the country but not for enrichment. So that’s why I left my good job that was giving me 300,000 dollars a year to work for the country, and I am here to honour Ghana but not to shame Ghana,” he posited
The minister said he expected the media to seek clarification on the GALOP matter instead of accusing and whitewashing him with unfounded allegations.
“The media guys are my friends. I know the faces of about 90 % of you but you failed to contact me for my side of the story and tried to denigrate me,” he lamented.
He indicated that he has his doors and even windows open for any information they want. According to him, for the past four and half years, he has dealt with the media very well so they should always contact him on any issue without doing the bidding of any faceless individuals for their own selfish desire.
“I want to call those behind this smear campaign to bow their heads in shame for their misfired attack and plan. The president brought me here to help him transform the education of this country and he keeps on reminding me of the task ahead. We want the dear country of ours to be part of the 4th industrial revolution,” he said.
He courted the media to partner his ministry to bring Ghana’s education to a level where we will all be proud of. According to him, he wants to ensure good quality education for everything Ghanaian child whether poor or rich, advantaged or disadvantaged, handicapped or privileged. That’s the only way the country can develop.
