Ghana’s Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur shocked a gathering of the chiefs and people of Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region when she turned down their request to convince government to among other things provide them with chalks.

The Headmistress of Kukurantumi Presby Primary School, Mrs Juliet Oppong while thanking the Second Lady for the presentation of five set of computers to the school requested of her to communicate to government to provide some basic things like log books for teachers and chalks which were in short supply in the school.

“The elderly say if you want to communicate something to God, you say it to the wind, we are therefore requesting of you to tell government to try and come to our aide with these things which are in short supply in the school…,” Mrs Oppong requested.

This request by the Headmistress received a thunderous applause from the gathering which were made up of the chief and his elders and several opinion leaders from Kukurantumi.

But the Second Lady during her speech wondered why the Headmistress would take upon herself to request these ‘basic things’ which could easily be provided through self help.

“The Head teacher has shocked me…she said you lack chalk and log books...I am very shocked that you are today asking me about chalk...how much is a box of chalk…I won’t give you chalk today, I won’t give you chalk tomorrow…,” she said.

She further asked the headmistress to put together a database of the old students of the school which according to her should together with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) be able to provide chalk and other basic needs to enhance teaching and learning.

“…Design a database of old students of the school and together with the PTA and teachers, provide your own chalk…,” she said.

The Second Lady further insisted the government has ‘spoilt’ Ghanaians by providing for even basic needs and that has led to parents becoming reluctant to acquire school uniforms for their wards and are instead relying on the free school uniforms by government.

“Secondly, you talk about log books and school uniforms, I think we have spoilt you so parents don’t want to even by school uniforms…head teacher eii, find another means of helping yourself….

“I will even feel shy to go to Accra and call on the government to come and provide chalk...it would be very difficult for me to do so…,” she said.