Parents of Government Technical High School, GTHS Bangem have accused the Parent Teachers Association, PTA of embezzlement of funds.
This took place at the PTA General Assembly meeting on October 10, 2023 at the school campus scheduled for the evaluation of the 2022/2023 academic year.
Speaking at the meeting, Ekanjume Peter a parent said that the enrollment presented by the PTA was false. He said most of the projects claimed to have been executed by the PTA were not implemented. He lamented that FCFA 400.000 was allocated for the purchase of computers but were never bought.
But the PTA President, Ekwoge Marcel argued that he bought four computers and handed to the principal.
Another parent Epie Enongene Manga said support allocated for the FENASCO games was not spent. He also complained on the high running cost by the PTA executive which was over FCFA 300.000. Manga pointed that just one meeting was held last year with low attendance recorded. He asked the PTA president, to explains how the money was used.
The PTA president defended that he supported staff of the institution during their social activities.
But Etoke Njume said PTA money was not meant for staff socials. He demanded payment vouchers of all expenditures made by the PTA.
Okassi Judith, another parent asked Ekwoge whom he executed the PTA projects with.
In response, the financial Secretary Njabe Ernest said he only received the financial report to read in the meeting. He pointed that he has never been involved in the running of the PTA.
Meanwhile the treasurer also pointed out that she has just been disbursing the funds in her keeping upon the request of the President.
Akame Kingsly, a parent said that there is no security guard in the school campus but the PTA president claimed that a security guard was paid to secure the school.
This, Ekwoge said he has been paying a security guard for the school but could not risk his life to go to the campus and check if the security guard was effective.
At the end of the meeting, an audit committee headed by Epie Manga was setup to check facts and receipts of payment made by the president. The meeting was adjourned for October 12, 2023.
Computers Reappear
As parents and teachers of GTHS Bangem met during the next sitting some parents accused the principal and the PTA chairman of embezzling the sum of FCFA 400.000. Mbong Judith said, the PTA President ran every affaire alone and it was a one-man government. She said that teachers should be asked if they saw computers in school from the PTA.
Ekwelle Pekoes, Head of Department for Computer Science said he has not seen any computer meanwhile the PTA president said that he bought four new computers and handed them to the principal.
After the setting of the audit committee Epie Manga and his team reported that, when they went to the principal’s office they asked to see the four computers but the principal presented but a generator.
It was at this juncture that Fomalatou Neville, a physics teacher appeared with a box of computers. But he was not allowed to enter the hall as a group of parents punched him mercilessly, accusing his of conniving with the accused.
Epie Vivian said Fomalatou has not been in any of the PTA meetings since the embezzlement matter started. She doubted how he suddenly appeared with computers.
Audit Report Rejected
The audit committee lead by Manga was charged with the tasks of faithfully auditing the financial statements of the school regarding the PTA, and to provide substantial evidence to prove the innocence or guilt of the Principal of GTHS Bangem, Besong Robert Njock and the PTA President Ekwoge Marcel. The meeting was adjourned to October 19.
Falsified Students’ Enrolment
On the 19th of the October 2023, Oben Ayuk on behalf of the audit committee, presented a 12-point report which stated that, no financial records were presented by the financial secretary and the treasurer. Oben highlighted that from the report, Ekwoge presented an enrollment of 295 students meanwhile the actual enrollment was 346 students.
The representative of the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education Kupe Muanenguba, Epinkwelle Etone revealed that the report cannot be considered valid because they did not have supporting documents regarding the actual enrollment of the school. He told them to visit the delegation for updated statistics on the enrolment.
Oben in his report also stated that income presented by the chairman was FCFA 4.360.000. The committee expected that the treasurer should be in keeping of a balance of FCFA 1.960.000.
But Epinkwelle asked if the treasurer was audited. When Oben revealed that the treasurer was not available. Epinkwelle stated that the audit report cannot be valid until a complete auditing of everyone involved is carried out.
Principal Vindicated
On the first day of the meeting, the parents faulted the principal for conniving with the PTA president in the embezzlement of funds since he was absent from the meeting. But when he appeared in the second meeting, Njock told them that he has no hand in the running of the PTA. He said he only informs the PTA president on the school needs and he provides. He however justified that the enrolment submitted by Ekwoge is correct. He encouraged the audit committee to verify the enrolment at the divisional delegation.
By Olive Ejang
