School feeding caterers in the Ashanti Region have threatened to stage a naked demonstration due to the government’s failure to pay their arrears.
According to the caterers, they have sent several petitions to the School Feeding Programme secretariat but efforts to get their monies have been unsuccessful.
They lamented the untold hardships the situation has brought upon them, adding that several caterers have died, while others are unwell as a result.
They have, therefore, given the government until June 28, 2024, to pay all outstanding arrears or face their fury.
“We are requesting that the leadership of the School Feeding Secretariat pay us. We worked for three terms without getting paid. How do you expect us to pay our bankers and suppliers? Do you think the sum you pay us will be sufficient to cover our debts? Do you want us to get arrested?”
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“We have given you until Friday to pay us all our arrears, or we will storm the secretariat naked. We will demonstrate in public with our breasts and private parts, then walk to the secretariat to demand payment for our overdue debts”.
Meanwhile, the caterers angrily suggested that the government should shut down the programme if it is unable to continue funding the meal services.
In July 2023, the government announced that it had paid all arrears of caterers under the School Feeding Programme.
This was disclosed by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta while delivering the 2023 Mid-Year Budget review on Monday, July 31.
This happened after caterers across the country embarked on a strike after months of complaining about the arrears owed them by the government.
They vowed not to cook for the school children until the monies owed them were paid.
They also demanded an increase in the amount paid per child from GH¢1 to GH¢3.50.