Caterers of the School Feeding Program want the government to honor a directive that allows them to continue their contracts until the end of the 2024/2025 academic year.
A letter issued on May 2 terminated the contracts of all caterers, despite an earlier directive to the contrary.
President of the Concerned School Feeding Caterers Association, Gifty Asamoah, says members have already procured all foodstuffs for the term.
“You have seen the foodstuffs we have purchased—fish, groundnuts, and others have been bought from Ejura. The foodstuffs were to be shared among us, but we had to stop the truck after receiving the new information. We have lost a lot of money,” she said.
According to caterers under the school feeding program, they had initially decided to suspend their services after the change of government. However, the decision was rescinded after receiving communication asking them to complete the 2024/2025 academic year.
Gifty Asamoah expressed concern about the government’s decision to terminate the contract despite the earlier communication.
“After the change of government, we had moved to take away our utensils from the schools, but we were told an agreement had been reached for us to continue until the end of the academic year. I had already removed my utensils, so I had to return them,” she said.
The caterers were relieved of their posts in a letter issued on May 2, just three working days before the new term began. By then, they had already begun preparations to provide meals for basic school pupils.
Many had already purchased foodstuffs in preparation for the term.
In Krapa, Ejisu Municipality, one of the caterers had already purchased most of the foodstuff needed for the term, including dried fish, vegetables, and canned goods, in large quantities for the contracts.
The fear now is that the foodstuffs will rot if the contract is not executed.
“We are only pleading with the President. If they had communicated this earlier, we wouldn’t have gone to the market. It came too late. You have seen the money we have spent—what do we do with these foodstuffs after the contract is terminated?” Mrs. Asamoah added.
The Progressive School Feeding Caterers Association in the Ashanti Region took a loan as a group to procure food items in bulk. They had to stop the goods from being transported to Kumasi after receiving the letter canceling the contract.
The caterers now fear that the suppliers will not refund the money they have already paid for the produce.