BONABOTO held a Press Conference on Thursday May 26, 2005 to draw the attention of Government and all other stakeholders to an annual crisis that results from delays in the release of feeding grants to second cycle schools in the three Northern regions of the country.

Recounting the effects of the delay of the feeding grants which has led to the closure or postponement of reopening of schools, Mr Thomas Akabzaa, the National Chairman said the academic performance of students could take a big dip since their learning schedules were disrupted. He said the situation would also affect the final year students who were supposed to write their examinations in a few months because "examination schedules are not going to be changed to accommodate these unfortunate ones. It will also reduce their interest in school work and sparking potential increases in the drop-out rate".

Mr Akabzaa said another likely effect was that poor parents might pull their wards out of school to help in their immediate survival battles.The three Northern regions, according to Mr Akabzaa have the lowest concentration of schools in the country, accounting for less than four per cent of student population at the university level.

Only two schools in those regions are in Ghana's top 45 secondary schools that account for 96.3 per cent of total admissions to Universities.The regions also accounts for mere 3.7 per cent of admissions to universities according to recent statistics.

Mr Akabzaa said the situation has been compounded by the implementation of the cost-sharing and cost recovery policies over the last two decades, and the lackadaisical attitude of some public officials, coupled with the deliberate colonial policy that created a 60-year education gap between the northern and southern parts of the country."We appeal to the Minister of Education to, as a matter of urgency, facilitate the release of the feeding grants of students in second cycle institutions in the three northern regions without further delay and ensure the recall of all students who were at home for the past two weeks", Mr Akabzaa said.

BONABOTO further encouraged the Northern Caucus in Parliament to close their ranks and speak strongly on the issue to ensure a speedy and lasting resolution of the problem. District assemblies in the regions were also encouraged to treat the issue as an emergency and join hands with Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and well-meaning individuals to solve the problem.

Present at the Press Conference were Hon. John Tia (MP, Talensi), Hon Albert Abongo (MP, Bongo), Hon Mahama Ayariga (MP, Bawku Central) as well as BONABOTO Executive Members (both Accra and National) and other well-wishers.