Some unpaid school feeding caterers in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region have given the government a one-week ultimatum to settle the arrears owed to them or face consequences.
According to the caterers, the government owes them for the second term of the 2024–2025 academic year, particularly affecting those who have already left the program.
In an interview with Adom News, the caterers expressed frustration over the government’s decision to pay 42 out of 55 caterers, leaving 13 unpaid despite numerous calls and follow-ups to the Oti Regional School Feeding Coordinator’s office.
Solomon Kakiba, spokesperson for the caterers, emphasized that they have dedicated years to serving their communities and feeding thousands of schoolchildren through the school feeding program.
Now, they find themselves in a difficult situation due to broken promises and systemic failures.
Kakiba noted that they complied when the NDC government terminated their contracts without warning, stepping aside to allow new caterers to take over, expecting payment for their services. However, they have yet to receive any explanation as to why only 42 of the 55 caterers were paid.
Despite several meetings with the District Chief Executive (DCE) Isaiah Dordoe, who promised to address the matter eight weeks ago, the caterers are still awaiting a resolution. Meanwhile, their debts continue to accumulate, and their families suffer, even as the Finance Minister publicly announced that all caterers had been paid for the second and third terms of the 2024–2025 academic year.
Kakiba asked, “Who is pocketing our money?” and warned that they would not hesitate to block access to schools if the government fails to pay them within a week.
The affected caterers lamented that debt collectors continue to harass them and warned of taking drastic actions if their grievances go unheard. They questioned why the NDC government is treating them this way. “Are we not Ghanaians? We worked for it; the government must pay! If not, there will be consequences,” they said.
The affected schools include:
- Kpassa Primary B’ Complex (B1, B2, B3, B4)
- Busugnamdo D/A Primary (A & B)
- Tinjasi D/A Primary (A & B)
- Damanko D/A Primary (A & B)
- Damanko E.P (A & B)
- Isor Akura D/A Primary
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