Kumasi SHS gets $85,000 modern Kitchen as Stakeholders Push for Nationwide Upgrades
Kumasi Senior High School (KUHIS) has unveiled a state‑of‑the‑art kitchen funded by alumni in North America, intensifying calls for government to prioritise feeding infrastructure in Senior High Schools nationwide.
The smoke‑free facility, valued at $85,000, was donated by Mmeranteɛ North America and equipped with commercial food‑holding cabinets, a tilting steam‑jacketed kettle, and stainless steel trolleys. Alumni leaders said the project was designed to improve hygiene, efficiency, and safety in mass food preparation.
Prof. Chris Mensah‑Bonsu, project coordinator, noted that while government has invested in classrooms, dormitories, and libraries, kitchens remain neglected. “A lot of kitchens in various SHSs are in a bad state. This is a threat to the safety of kitchen staff, students, and by extension, the national economy,” he said.
Alumni members highlighted that many school cooks still rely on firewood, exposing them to smoke‑related health risks and increasing the risk of food contamination. They argued that modern equipment would reduce workload, improve food safety, and cut down deforestation linked to firewood use.
Larry Osei Koduah, chairman of Mmeranteɛ North America, urged KUHIS staff and students to maintain the facility responsibly. He said training had been provided to kitchen staff and dining hall prefects, but day‑to‑day care must come from the school. Headmaster Benjamin Tawiah Twum expressed gratitude but appealed for support to renovate the school’s dilapidated dining hall to match the new kitchen.
Education stakeholders say the KUHIS kitchen highlights a broader need: a comprehensive audit and upgrade of SHS feeding infrastructure to match the expansion under the Free SHS policy. Alumni groups are being urged to partner with government to roll out a national programme for modern kitchens across schools.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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