The Ministry of Education has issued a statement clarifying the nature of the purported expenditure of GH¢68.5 million on photocopying WASSCE ‘Pasco’ booklets.
The Ministry stated that, the funds were not allocated for photocopying but rather for the printing, supply, and distribution of revision books.
According to the statement, “in 2019, the funds were utilized to procure study guides from reputable publishing companies, including Messrs. Aki-Ola Publications Company Limited and Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Company Limited. These study guides comprised past questions and answers for Senior High Schools, with an estimated cost of GH¢40 each for 207,000 copies”.
Furthermore, the Ministry engaged Kingdom Books and Stationery Company Limited for the procurement of additional study guides for SHS, consisting of WAEC past papers, suggested answers, and chief examiners’ reports for core subjects, at a cost of GH¢75 per booklet, totaling 361,755 copies.
“In 2021, the Ministry continued its efforts to provide quality educational materials by contracting Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited for the printing, supply, and distribution of 446,957 updated revision books for SHS. These books include WAEC Past questions, Chief Examiner’s Reports, and possible answers, with each booklet priced at GH¢78.”
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, reiterated the commitment to transparency and accountability in educational procurement processes, debunking the inaccurate claims regarding the alleged misuse of funds.
Below is the statement
Re: Clarification on Alleged GH¢68.5 million Spending on WASSCE ‘Pasco’ Photocopying
It is crucial to note that the mentioned amounts were not for photocopying but rather for the printing, supply, and distribution of the revision books. Therefore, the claim that GH¢78 was spent on photocopying a page in the booklet is inaccurate and misleading.
In 2019, the funds were utilized to engage Messrs. Aki-Ola Publications Company Limited and Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Company Limited for the supply of revision books (study guides) for Senior High Schools. The purchase included 207,000 copies of study guides for West African Senior High Schools, consisting of past questions and answers, at an estimated cost of GH¢40 each.
Additionally, 361,755 copies of study guides for SHS, comprising WAEC past papers, suggested answers, and chief examiners’ reports for core subjects, were procured from Kingdom Books and Stationery Company at a cost of GH¢75 per booklet.
Subsequently, in 2021, the Ministry engaged Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited for the printing, supply and distribution of 446,957 revision books for SHS for ghc78 comprising of WAEC Past questions, Chief Examiner’s Reports and possible answers. 446,954 copies of updated editions of the study
Kwasi kwarteng, Spokesperson, Ministry of Education
