According to a 3News report, some members of the School Feeding Caterers Association’s inability to pay off enormous debts has seen most of them dying, literally.
Speaking with Aduanaba Kofi Asante on the GhanaAkoma evening political show on Akoma 87.9FM in Kumasi under the condition of anonymity, one of the executives of the School Feeding Caterers Association in Ashanti revealed that the government has been owing them money since the previous academic year.
“The children are being fed GH¢1 and a tax of 3 percent so we are left with GHp97 per child which is not enough and we have complained severally but nothing has been done about it. Now schools have reopened and we have to feed the children with that same amount.
“We have so many arrears and when payments are in, we are underpaid which is really bad. Most of the women are dying because of the debts they owe since you cannot go and buy something on credit again. You go in for a loan and you have to plead,” the executive member lamented.
She continued: “Let’s assume the price of rice is GH¢600. The person is going to give it to you at GH¢900 because you are buying on credit. When the government promises to pay when school reopen, they don’t pay then you are seen as a liar. So when you mention school feeding on anything you want to buy on credit you will not get it.”
From the report we sighted on 3news, caterers are yet to begin operations three weeks after school resumed, which has had an impact on attendance at several elementary schools in Ashanti Region.
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