Caterers working under the Ghana School Feeding Programme have begun receiving overdue payments for the third term, following months of delays. The National President of the School Feeding Caterers Association, Nana Amoh Otu Sekyi, confirmed the development, stating that some caterers had successfully accessed their funds after a promise from the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman, to clear the arrears.
Nana Amoh Otu Sekyi explained that while some caterers were able to withdraw their payments on January 1, others faced delays due to bank holidays and limited banking facilities, particularly in rural areas. “Thankfully, the payments were made on December 31, around 6 p.m. Some caterers were able to access their money on January 1 through banks with e-zwich machines,” she said. “However, others are still waiting, with some facing challenges accessing funds due to today being a holiday or the lack of banking facilities in rural areas.”
The president expressed hope that by January 2, all caterers would receive their payments. She also mentioned that discussions regarding arrears dating back to 2019 were underway, with the chief accountant reaching out to her on December 31. “We are hopeful that positive news will come soon,” she added.
The payments come after months of protests from caterers, who had staged demonstrations on December 30 at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. They had demanded payment for arrears owed for two academic terms, covering 2023 and 2024. Despite assurances from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department that funds had been released, the caterers had not received payments, which they had been expecting.
The caterers, many of whom had pre-financed meals for schools, voiced their frustration over repeated delays, with earlier government promises to settle debts in August, September, and November failing to materialise. The situation prompted the December protests, as caterers sought transparency and accountability from the government.
While some caterers have begun to receive their payments, many remain hopeful that further arrears, including those from 2019, will soon be addressed.
Source:TheDotNews