A potential food shortage threatens 15 Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Northern Region after unidentified individuals raided the Buffer Stock Company warehouse, stealing over 150 bags of maize and other essential food items meant for school feeding programs.
The theft took place on the evening of January 3, just hours after schools reopened for the 2024/25 academic year. Only three schools had successfully collected their food supplies before the incident occurred, according to reports.
Warehouse Supervisor Alhassan Salifu revealed that the intruders first took food intended for the Tamale Metro Assembly before turning to the supplies designated for the schools.
Bukari Dahmani, the Northern Regional Coordinator for the Free Senior High School program, has warned that the incident could delay school operations unless the government intervenes swiftly.
Thugs in the Northern Region have raided the Buffer Stock Company warehouse, stealing over 150 bags of maize and other foodstuffs. #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/TcvDhJqmoc
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 4, 2025
Expressing concern over the situation, Douglas Haruna Yakubu, Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School, noted that schools were already anticipating food supply challenges before the theft, which could further worsen the crisis.
Police have arrested four suspects believed to be linked to the raid, and they are currently assisting with investigations.
The incident is part of a larger pattern of warehouse raids across the Northern Region since December 2024. Facilities under the Tamale Metro Assembly, the Department of Agriculture, and the Veterinary Service have also been targeted, with food supplies, agricultural chemicals, and fertilizers stolen, raising significant concerns about food security and supply chain stability in the region.
