Matron, cook arrested over theft of SHS food items

Two staff members of Sefwi Bekwai STEM Senior High School in Awaso, Western North Region, have been apprehended by police over the suspected theft of food items intended for students.

The arrested staff are Bennedicta Nyamadi, the school matron, and Rahel Kyeremateng, a cook. Authorities confirmed the arrests occurred on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, following intelligence received by the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Chief Executive the previous night.

Acting on the information, a team including local police officers, the area’s Member of Parliament, and the Municipal Chief Executive conducted a search of Kyeremateng’s home in Sefwi Atronsu. During the operation, police reportedly recovered a significant quantity of food items believed to have been taken from the school’s storeroom.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Nyamadi and Kyeremateng allegedly collaborated to remove the food items and kept them at Kyeremateng’s residence, reportedly planning to sell them at a later date. Items recovered by authorities included 21 bags of rice weighing 50 kilograms each, four sacks of gari, two sacks of maize, one and a half bags of millet, one bag of sugar, three bags of beans, 40 large tins of tomato paste, four cartons of milk, six gallons of cooking oil, and 54 tins of canned mackerel. The total value of the items is yet to be determined.

During questioning, Kyeremateng reportedly identified Nyamadi as the source of the stolen items, which led to the matron being arrested at the school premises. Meanwhile, police are searching for Hannah Dufie, an assistant matron who is alleged to have been involved in the theft and is currently at large.

The Western North Regional Police Command has assured that the investigation is ongoing and that anyone found participating in the theft will face legal consequences. The incident underscores the need for strict supervision of school resources and highlights the importance of protecting food supplies meant for students.