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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They lament the delay in disbursement of the allowances has become a norm, causing untold hardship on graduates who depend on the stipend for their survival.

The Association is demanding the immediate payment to avert an industrial action.

National Service Personnel in the public sector say they are struggling to meet basic needs as payments of their monthly allowances have delayed.

These allowances sometimes delay for several months before they are paid to fresh graduates undertaking the one-year mandatory service.

Some personnel under the 2023-2024 batch say they have not received their allowances since January 2024.

Prince Boadi is worried about the delayed payment of allowances.

“The delayed payment is a worry to us because as graduates our parents someway want us to be fending for ourselves so most us depend on the allowance. If it delays, we really get worried” he indicated.

Secretary of the National Service Personal Association, Nana Adu Gyamfi Mensah, says the delayed payment of allowances has become a worry to members.

“With the concerns of allowance, we had about 4 unpaid allowance with two months settled which we fail it’s not something that must happen. We are telling the scheme and government that this is unacceptable” he said.

Nana Gyamfi says the Association is on the negotiation table with the government.

But failure to comply with the agreement will warrant a strike.

“In the coming days, after probably our last meeting with the board and government, we will announce our next line of action that is to call for a strike and subsequently a demonstration” he said.

Following a protest staged at the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s premises in August 2023, where members demanded payment of around GH¢200 million owed them for 2022, the Association’s spokesperson, Kwaku Amedume, expressed deep concern over the delay and its adverse impact on the welfare of its members.

“We are yet to hear from the government. If they call us and resolve the issues, why not? We want things to be done well and in the right way” he said in an interview on Citi News.

Mr. Amedume noted that, they will resort to picketing if government fails to heed to their call.

“If they call us and are able to resolve the issues, we will not go through with our picket. But if they don’t, we have to go on the picket to show how bad things are and how we are affected. We are suppliers, and we have been with the schools for almost 20 to 30 years, and we are many and employ many people, so cutting us out would be like creating a very huge unemployment in the country” he added.

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