Gov’t Postpones Date For Paying Arrears Of School Feeding Caterers

The government has once again assured the caterers under the school feeding program to receive their arrears monies owning them by next week after failing to fulfill their promise to pay them this week.

Caterers under the school feeding program withdrew their services due to the government’s failure to pay them.

They said that for the past two terms now, they have not received their monies, and it’s bringing their businesses back.

They are also demanding an increase in their allocation from 93 pesewas per child to GH¢3.00, due to the high cost of food items and the current economic situation in the country is making it impossible for them to feed the pupils.

Meanwhile, the government stated that financial clearance is made available for the caterers to be paid this week but an interview conducted by the Head of Public Relations of the Ghana School Feeding Secretariat, Alfa Siba said that caterers should expect payment next week instead of this week.

He said, “It’s true, the caterers have still not been paid. But by the close of next week, they will likely be paid. The first timeline we gave was based on assurance. But the week has already ended. So by the close of next week, they may be paid. There is a general challenge the country is facing with the economy.”

In 2021, a section of the caterers chided the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sara Adwoa Safo, for failing to address their concerns.

They said increasing the allocation to GH¢3 will ensure that they can provide quality and adequate meals for pupils.

Moreover, the Ghana School Feeding Program is an initiative of the comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programmed Pillar 3, which seeks to enhance food security and reduce hunger in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs) on hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

Also, the government currently provides 93 pesewas for a child per day for a plate of food while the amount is considered inadequate to provide an adequate and healthy diet for child development by caterers.