Pay Us All Our Arrears Now – School Feeding Caterers Cry Out

Caterers for the school feeding program in the Eastern Region are threatening to stop providing meals for school children if government does not settle the arrears owed them for the last academic terms.

According to one of the caterers, Madam Vida Adum, some of them took loans from the bank and get foodstuffs on credit to facilitate the program hence the delay in releasing the monies is making things difficult for them.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Madam Vida Adum stressed that since September till date nothing has been paid to them, even though some of them are afraid to speak for fear that they may lose their contract.

She explained further that they promised to pay 51 days out of the 71 days owned which they agreed even though that was not the original contractual agreement, but nothing has been paid so far.

“Most of us borrowed the foodstuffs and the market women are on us, they need their money. Most of us went for loans and now the interest has accumulated, yet they have refused to pay us . . . the most painful aspect is the promise and fail," she said.

"We have sent our request to all the appropriate authorities as far as I am concerned, but the same old story . . . we are working on it . . . I am frustrated; it’s very painful,” she added.

The caterers are however appealing to government to pay them all arrears owed them in order that they can also provide effecient services for the school children.