The government has released GH¢ 100, 000, 000 to caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme to ease crisis facing the sector.
The money is to defray the “remaining 44 days of arrears owed them for the second term and 56 days of the third term of 2016/2017 academic year respectively.”
The aggrieved caterers stormed the Gender Minister late October threatening to launch a naked demonstration over the arrears. The development has affected feeding at the basic and second cycle levels of education.
In a statement, the National Coordinator of the GSFP Dr. Kwame Adu-Nsiah said: “Disbursement of the 44 days of feeding grant is scheduled to commence on Friday, November 24th 2017 and it would continue throughout next week. Caterers are therefore advised to check with their respective service providers for the release of their money.
“The rest of the outstanding arrears of 56 days for the Third Term of 2016/2017 academic year would be disbursed by the end of November 2017. This in effect brings a closure to payment of all outstanding arrears for the 2016/2017 academic year.”
The caterers have been called upon to “exercise restraint” as the Secretariat works around the clock to “resolve these issues”.
“Every effort is being made to ensure that we pay all the caterers by the date mentioned above. We wish to assure all stakeholders on Government’s commitment to sustain the programme and improve upon its service delivery,” the statement added.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
