Caterers picket at Gender Ministry over arrears

The Ghana School Feeding Caterers Association (GSFCA) picketed at the Gender Ministry Monday to demand payment of arrears owed its members.

The Association said its members are being harassed by suppliers because they are owing months of food supplies.

Speaking to Joy News at the premises of the Gender Ministry, the caterers said their patience has been stretched because government has repeatedly failed to honour its many promises to them.

The caterers seated at the Gender Ministry

The caterers provide various canteen services to schools under the Ghana School Feeding Programme initiated by the President John Kufuor administration.

A caterer Florence Baidoo told Joy News they could not celebrate the Mothers’ Day which was marked on Sunday because they were broke.

"People sent us happy Mothers’ Day messages, but there was no money for us to celebrate the day with our family," she said.

Florence, who serves a cluster of schools in Tema with a combined pupil population of 400, said she had run into debts because she had to borrow to provide food for the children.

This, she said would not have happened if the government had paid the monies due them. "We need the money," she said.

But Coordinator of the Programme, Patrick Acheampong has assured the caterers their monies would be released to them in the coming days.

He explained there was a delay in the release of funds because of the change in government, which halted the signing of all forms of cheques.

“We have made a lot of effort to make payment but because of the change in government we all have to go through some challenges,” he said.

Out of the 140 days owed the caterers by the School Feeding Programme, Mr Acheampong said, only 75 days had matured for payment.

According to him, the new government has reviewed some of the figures and the necessary authorities have given their approval for payment to be made.

 

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