In life and in death, the showdown between late Coordinator of Ghana’s School Feeding Programme, Mrs Gertrude Quashigah and her former boss ex-Gender Minister Sarah Adwoa Safo continues.
The two women had a standoff which led Adwoa Safo to refuse to report to work as Gender Minister after spending less than 5 months in office.
On November 12th, reports of the tragic death of Mrs Quashigah at the age 63 sent shockwaves through the education and social welfare sectors of Ghana in which she worked.
The family have opened a Book of Condolence at the Spintex Road Residence of the late School Feeding Boss but family sources told MyNewsGh.com Adwoa Safo did not show up to condole with the family or leave a goodwill message.
During their impasse, Adwoa Safo had reportedly said insofar as Mrs Quashigah remained at post as School Feeding Boss, she Adwoa Safo would rather leave the job that remain in office while being “disrespected” by Mrs Quashigah.
President Akufo-Addo eventually nominated a new Gender Minister to replace Adwoa Safo after more than a year absence from office in which she was paid salaries.
Mrs Gertrude Quarshigah who is also the widow of the late Major Courage Quarshigah and was said to command influence within the NPP.
Adwoa Safo had asked the widow to leave her post upon assuming office as Gender Minister in March, 2021 but Gertrude Quashigah fought back.
The powers behind Mrs. Quarshigah proved more powerful than Adwoa Safo imagined, MyNewsGh.com was told by insiders then.
Mrs. Quarshigah’ was reinstated less than 24 hours after Adwoa Safo sacked her by an official letter dated Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
The first letter which was addressed to Mrs Quashigah said “this to inform you of the termination of your appointment as the National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding programme. You will be paid one month’s salary in lieu of notice as stipulated in your contract agreement”.
The letter further directed Mrs Quashigah to hand over to the Chief Director of the Gender Ministry. No reason was assigned for her removal at the time.
But in a rather dramatic turn, in what insiders revealed was a power struggle between powerful godfathers in the NPP, Mrs Quashigah triumphed.
Adwoa Safo was ordered to reinstate the now late School Feeding boss immediately or she herself risked her own sack.
Adwoa Safo authorized a second letter to be written in which she said the first letter sacking Mrs. Quashigah was “an administrative error”.
Mrs Gertrude Quashigah, was officially named national coordinator of the programme in March 2020 after taking over from Dr Kwame Adu-Nsiah who was also fired as MyNewsGh.com reported at the time.
It is unclear whether Adwoa Safo will attend the funeral after been unable to sign a book of Condolence for her late “friend”.
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