MoE Clarifies The Alleged ¢68.5 million Spending On WASSCE Pasco Photocopying

The Ministry of Education has provided clarification regarding the alleged GH¢68.5 million expenditure on photocopying WASSCE ‘Pasco’ (past questions and answers) booklets.

Contrary to claims, the ministry asserted that the funds were not solely for photocopying but rather for the printing, supply, and distribution of revision books.

In 2019, the ministry engaged Messrs. Aki-Ola Publications Company Limited and Messrs Kingdom Books and Stationery Company Limited for the supply of revision books for Senior High Schools. This procurement included 207,000 copies of study guides for West African Senior High Schools at an estimated cost of GH¢40 each. Additionally, 361,755 copies of study guides for SHS, comprising WAEC past papers and suggested answers, were procured from Kingdom Books and Stationery Company at a cost of GH¢75 per booklet.

In 2021, the ministry continued its efforts by engaging Messrs. Kingdom Books and Stationery Limited for the printing, supply, and distribution of 446,957 revision books for SHS, costing GH¢78 per booklet. These updated editions included WAEC past questions, Chief Examiner’s Reports, and possible answers.

“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” the Ministry wrote

The clarification comes in response to concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament, who demanded an investigation into the alleged expenditure. They questioned the cost of photocopying past questions, highlighting figures of GH¢33.6 million in 2020 and over GH¢34 million in 2021, both sourced through single-source procurement.

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Addressing the media, Ashaiman Member of Parliament, Ernest Norgbey, labeled the expenditure as potential corruption and called for a comprehensive probe by the Special Prosecutor.

In defense, Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum explained that the procurement was aimed at aiding final year Senior High School students in their preparation for the WASSCE, particularly during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that the past questions were procured to support students amidst the challenging circumstances.

The Ministry’s clarification aims to address misconceptions surrounding the expenditure and reaffirm its commitment to providing necessary resources for the education sector.