This follows a protest by a large number of caterers from the School Feeding Programme at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection on Monday, December 30, demanding payment of arrears for two academic terms covering 2023 and 2024.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the group on Tuesday, December 31, the sector Minister, Dakoa Newman, assured them that the funds would be released shortly.

“We had a lengthy meeting with them, they have spoken about their grievances and we have also assured them, as we have communicated to them, their outstanding payment it should be paid tomorrow [Wednesday, January 1],” she stated.

She added, “Concerning the first term, they just ended the first term, so they are doing their own internal processes at the School Feeding Secretariat to bring it to the Ministry for us to also append our signature.”

Dakoa Newman reaffirmed that the money would be released to the Secretariat.

“And so once that is done, the Controller will once again come into effect and release the monies needed for the first term. I have spoken to them at length, and they are also waiting for their payment, which is today, tomorrow” she said.

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The caterers from the Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Eastern Regions besieged the offices in the early hours of Monday, December 30, 2024.

Adom News’ Selasie Amu who was at the scene reported that, the caterers are demanding the payment of arrears for two terms.

Additionally, they are demanding outstanding payments dating back to 2017 and 2018.

Acknowledging they are New Patriotic Party(NPP) members and that earned them contracts, they have expressed fears the government transition may affect their jobs and monies.

The caterers have vowed not to return to their respective homes until their debts are settled.

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The payment comes a few days after caterers in the Ashanti region threatened a demontration over their arrears.

A statement issued by the Head of Public Relations, Siiba Alfa noted that the total number of cooking days for the first term of 2023/2024 academic year which began on 3^rd October 2023 was 58.

“However, four days were deducted from the total amount due to official communication instructing caterers to use 3^rd to 6^th October 2023 to clean up their kitchen environment. As a result, the official cooking day for the term commenced on 9^th October 2023.

“Consequently, the caterers were paid for 54 cooking days at GH¢1.20 per child. It is pertinent for caterers to note that the payment is according to the number of days they were able to feed beneficiary pupils during the term,” the statement explained in parts.

Meanwhile, the statement noted the attention of the National Secretariat has been drawn to some lurid complaints from some caterers over alleged underpayments resulting from the recent payment.

The secretariat has therefore directed that all Caterers who genuinely have such issues of underpayment or no payment should immediately report to their Regional Coordinators for prompt redress.

“The issues would be thoroughly investigated to ascertain whether all the affected Caterers cooked throughout the term or they were rather affected by non-cooking days’ deductions. The National Secretariat therefore urges the Caterers to remain calm whilst we make the necessary efforts to address the issues,” the statement assured.

Below is the full statement

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Addressing the media, the disgruntled women said the government owes them payment for three terms.

Despite being members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the caterers expressed their dissatisfaction with how they are being treated.

The caterers warned that they would take to the streets in protest if their arrears are not paid promptly.

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Mr Ofori-Atta made this known during the 2023 Mid-Year Budget review presentation in Parliament on Monday, July 31.

“Under the Ghana School Feeding Programme, coverage increased considerably from 1,671,777 beneficiaries in 2016 to 3,801,491 beneficiaries by June 2023. The feeding grants cost per meal, per child, per day increased from GH¢1.00 to GH¢1.20 for the 2023 academic year.

“We have also settled all arrears owed to caterers under the programme for the second and third terms of the 2022 academic year; and the first term of 2023,” he said.

The Minister also pledged the government’s commitment to continue to sustain social protection programmes to protect the poor and the vulnerable.

“Under the LEAP programme, Government disbursed a total of GH¢169.95 million as of June 2023 to 346,019 households comprising 1,533,748 individuals. This includes the increase of the monthly grant to beneficiary households from GH¢32.00 to GH¢64.00 for one-member household and GH¢38.00 to GH¢76.00 for two-member households. Our target under this programme period is to reach about 8 percent of the population, that is 2.5 million people,” he added.

The caterers declared a national strike on April 27, over government’s failure to pay them their arrears and increase the amount paid per child from 97 pesewas to GH¢3.50.

The caterers insisted they will not be moved by empty promises this time. 

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“Let me officially announce that the nationwide strike embarked upon by our caterers across the entire country has now been called off,” President of the Association, Mrs Charlotte Ashiakie Asante, announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We entreat all our caterers to go back to work when school re-opens next week. We sincerely apologise to all our beneficiary school children, teachers and parents for any inconveniences caused by our long strike, which was beyond our control.”

The caterers declared strike months ago to press home their demand for increment in the feeding grant, payment of arrears among others.

But following series of fruitful engagements the caterers Association had with the management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme led by the National Coordinator Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah, and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, led by the sector Minister Lariba Zuweira Abudu, her deputy and the Chief Director, the Association has decided to call off the strike.

Mrs Asante enumerated a number of positive results achieved by the engagements including: payment of 3rd term of 2022 arrears; gathering of data on all other outstanding arrears for payment; increment of feeding grant; ongoing talks with the World Bank to come on board to support caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme; and nationwide re-engagement of existing caterers.

Meanwhile, Mrs Asante has served notice that caterers of the feeding programme still stand by their earlier demand for GH¢3 increment in the feeding grant as opposed to the government’s proposed GH¢1.20.

“It is our demand that the government would facilitate the necessary processes to still increase the amount from the proposed Ghc.1.20 to three Ghana cedis, considering the prevailing cost of items on the market,” she stressed.

She reminded caterers and the general public at large that there is only one recognised caterer association, and therefore rallied all to be united under it for their common goal.

“The National Executive would like to strongly admonish all caterers to henceforth desist from spreading falsehood and using the media for wrong purposes or as a tool to denigrate the Programme, instead of using dialogue and the acceptable rules of engagement,” she asserted.  

She also appealed to the Gender Minister to as soon as possible implement her planned nationwide engagement with the caterers in the various regions to know their challenges to enable her to address them on time.

She said the training would help them to rake in profits by cutting down on costs and food wastage in their pantries.

Madam Quashigah, who was addressing a day’s workshop on the Dissemination of Landscape Analysis Report on Rice Fortification, stressed that this would help them to put to good use the GHS1.00 per child they receive.

This workshop shared findings of a comprehensive report on rice fortification and discussed strategies to enhance the nutritional value of school meals through rice fortification. 

The dissemination workshop is the commencement of a two-and-a-half-year project by the World Food Programme, with funding support from the Rockefeller Foundation and Royal DSM, to improve the nutritional needs of school children through the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

The project seeks to improve the nutritional value of rice for the school children to meet their nutritional needs since rice was a staple.

Madam Quashigah said though the amount they received needed to be increased, they could still cook nutritious foods for the school children with it.

She said they had recently agreed on a proposed increment from GH₵1.00 they received per child head to GH₵1.20 pesewas, saying they were still engaging the Finance Ministry on further increment.

She added that such training would be certificated through which they would be able to sort and assess their work.

Madam Patience Asiedu, Head of Nutrition, World Food Programme (WFP) Accra, said the project supported the government’s efforts to boost local production of rice.

The capacity of 5,000 smallholder farmers and 10 rice millers will be enhanced to support local rice production for the School Feeding Programme, she said.

She said under the project, caterers and cooks would be trained to cook nutritional foods for the school children.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme as an intervention by the Government of Ghana, started in 2005 to provide food to children in public basic schools from kindergarten to primary six.

The Programme aims to increase school enrolment, attendance and retention, reduce short-term hunger and malnutrition and boost domestic food production.

The Programme has 3,801,491 beneficiary pupils, 34,350 cooks and caterers and covers 10,832 public basic schools nationwide.

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The caterers insist they will not be moved by empty promises this time. 

Kwaku Amedume, the spokesman for the caterers, in a media interview said they have been taken for granted for far too long. 

According to him, they have gone through all the necessary paperwork but they have still not been paid. 

“That has always been the story we have been hearing for the past two years; we are organising some money, we are going to release some funding, we should bring our names, we should meet at 10 o’clock.

“We have gone through all these processes and promises, and we are still where we are for the past two years. So I don’t think it is enough to just conclude that we are satisfied. Until we have our money in our hands, we don’t trust that this money will be paid to us.”

The caterers declared a national strike on April 27, over government’s failure to pay them their arrears and increase the amount paid per child from 97 pesewas to GH¢3.50.

According to the National Organiser of the School Feeding Association, Kwame Amankwaah, the caterers will only return to the kitchen after the government agrees to increase the amount per child.

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He stated as the Minister in NPP’s stronghold, he should have found a way to calm down the angry caterers.

“At least invite them to a conference room, find a way to communicate to cool them down. These are women who are saying they have cooked for our children they have not been paid,” he said on Accra-based TV3.

To Mr Glover, the Regional Coordinating Council was the only place the caterers could use to drum home their concerns, considering the distance between Kumasi and Accra.

“From Kumasi to the Gender Ministry in Accra is a long distance so looking around there is nowhere they can run to than to come to the father of the region” he stated.

Mr Titus-Glover, however, rendered an apology on the Minister’s behalf.

“Let me take this opportunity to apologise for the way he related to the women. It is not good for the optics” he added.

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The caterers picketed at the premises demanding payment of arrears in the second term of the previous academic year.

However, the Minister turned his back on the women because he did not like how the caterers responded to his plea for calm.

After the incident, the minister said he reacted the way he did because the caterers picketed his premises unlawfully.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has justified why he chastised School Feeding caterers who besieged his office on Monday.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Mensah said it was the first time the caterers were bringing their problem to his attention.

He therefore cannot understand why they decided to use a protest instead of a formal visit to air their grievances.

“I was in a meeting when I heard a noise outside so I sent my personal assistant to go and check and came back to tell me it was some School Feeding caterers demonstrating,” he said.

The caterers picketed at the Regional Coordinating Council premises demanding payment of unpaid arrears in the second term of the previous academic year.

However, the Minister turned his back on the women because he did not like how the caterers responded to his plea for calm.

Mr Osei Mensah returned to his office without taking a petition the caterers wanted to submit, an act which has been widely condemned.

But reacting to the backlash, the Ashanti Regional Minister said he sympathises with the caterers but he is not someone who tolerates illegality.

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According to him, the action of the caterers was illegal as they did not even service notice to the police about their picketing.

“If the security at the Regional Coordinating Council had reacted and attacked them, what would have been the results? We must be truthful to ourselves in this country and stop pampering people, the impunity is too much.

“I will not be happy if the government is owing me for months and I’m unable to feed my family with interests accruing but we should not use illegality to solve our problems,” he stated.

Play the audio above:

This comes after the government settled the 68-day arrears owed to school feeding caterers in nine regions including the Ashanti region.

The caterers insist the government increases the school feeding grant to complement the hikes in food commodity prices.

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This is because they have resolved to stop cooking meals for the children until their grievances are addressed.

Speaking to Adom News on Monday evening, Co-Ordinator for the caterers, Juliana Codjoe said they want the Ghana School Feeding Secretariat to increase the 90 pesewas allocation for each child to 3 cedis.

The caterers say a meeting they held with the Secretariat on Monday did not yield any outcome hence their decision not to continue cooking for the children.

Madam Juliana Codjoe also added that, the GSFP has not paid monies owe caterers.

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According to the aggrieved caterers, government has failed to increase the grants allocated to them to run the programme.

The caterers want the feeding fee increased from the current 97 pesewas per pupil to 3 cedis.

Speaking in an interview with Ayisha Ibrahim on News Desk on Monday, the President of the Caterers Association, Juliana Cudjoe voiced her frustrations and called on government to speedily address the problem.

“We are not pushing the government. We are just pleading with the government to increase our money. That’s all”, she stated.

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As of now, the Association is holding itself in readiness to meet with government to address its concerns.

But responding to why the Association has refused to cook for the pupils, pending the outcome of the meeting, Juliana Cudjoe said, “Most of the caterers don’t have money, and today, we’re going to meet them at the Secretariat. So whatever comes from there, we will let you know. We don’t have a choice”.

She added, “the prices of items have been increased, so when we are paid, we use the balance to offset our arrears. Then we’re left with nothing to cook. Today we have nothing to do, we have nothing to cook. We don’t have money. So we are going to meet them. It is not that we are punishing the kids. We don’t have money”.

Reacting to these concerns, the Public Relations Officer of the School Feeding Secretariat, Siibi Alpha expressed surprise at the development.

“This has come to us as a shock. Because we knew that, at least they’ll go and cook all along. So if they’re telling us that, that’s their stance that they’ll not go and cook, Management will also take a decision on what to do next in terms of at least trying to convince them to rescind their decision, and then trying to put contingency measures to also avert the [situation]”, he said.

Earlier, Chairperson of the Association, Juliana Cudjoe, told JoyNews that they are making huge losses from cooking hot meals for the children with the current amount paid as grant.

According to her, they have literally been doing magic to sustain their businesses.

“We are not going to cook until we hear something from them. We need our payment, and we want an increment too. So, we will not cook on Monday”, she said.

Meanwhile, the School Feeding Secretariat has promised to look into their concerns and has invited the leadership of the Association to a meeting on Monday.

“They have made their demands. So, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the School Feeding Management will develop a comprehensive statement on that”.

This new development comes after the Management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) announced last week that the resumption of cooking services in all beneficiary schools will begin on May 16.

A notice issued on May 9, added that the caterers would be paid the third term of the 2021 academic year and other arrears in due course.

The association said the grant per head is still pegged at 0.97 pesewas despite the continuous hikes in the prices of items.1

The situation, they noted is affecting the quality of food provided in the various beneficiary schools.

The association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Adizetu Amanuah Ankrah made these remarks at a press briefing, stating there has been no communication to them on the way forward.

“Are we going to get the increment or not? Or they are on it? We want to know. We want them to tell us something. They should come out and tell us something. We are pleading with Nana Akufo-Addo to come to our aid. He is our father” she stressed.

The School Feeding Program is an initiative of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Pillar 3.

With all public primary schools and kindergartens in Ghana as the targetted group, it seeks to reduce short-term hunger and malnutrition among school children and also increase enrollment, attendance and retention.

Following its commencement in 2005, it has been faced with numerous challenges including the delays in the payment of monies due caterers.

According to these caterers, they have been given uncountable assurances from the Caretaker Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and the School Feeding Secretariat that their monies would be paid in due course.

But they have been in the waiting after all these assurances but the monies have never hit their accounts.

The caterers, who spoke to Adom News, said they have sent many petitions to the appropriate authorities but their expectations have not been met.

The caterers explained every day their bankers and lenders are on their necks, for their monies.

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The caterers are, therefore, threatening demo if their arrears are not paid this December.

They say they would fiercely hit the streets to demonstrate against the unjustified treatment they are going through.

In furtherance of their frustrations, the caterers added that they and their families cannot celebrate this Christmas as others will have it because of the huge debt hanging on their necks.

They are, therefore, pleading with President Nana Akufo-Addo to compel the Gender Ministry and the School Feeding Caterers to do the needful and pay them or face their wrath through street demonstration.

The School Feeding Caterers Association is calling for an overhaul of the secretariat over what they described as a grand scheme to milk the state for the personal gains of a few.

According to them, about 510 ghost schools received GHC12 million as payment for the 2019/2020 academic year while the real caterers are not receiving payments for work done.

“Since the first term of the 2019/2020 academic year, the secretariat has been paying schools which are not on the feeding programme.

“It is estimated that over GH¢12.9 million was paid to over 510 schools across the country which are not on the school feeding programme,” Madam Aboagye alleged.

A spokesperson for the Association, Caroline Aboagye, at a press conference stated the situation was worrying and must be stopped immediately.

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She said “139 schools in the Volta Region, 41 in the Ashanti, 43 in Eastern, 10 in Western North, 59 in Ahafo, 33 in Greater Accra, 11 in Western, 9 in Bono, 30

in Central, 12 in Northern, 11 in Bono East, and five in the Upper West regions had been smuggled into the payment system of the feeding programme.”

She further appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to probe the activities of the Coordinators and Directors at the Secretariat, the national, regional, and district levels.