Builsa South Member of Parliament Dr Clement Apaak has told the government to endeavour to meet its obligations to persons it has contracts with and pay them on time.
Dr Apaak said that the delay in paying the food suppliers under the free senior high school programme, which led to the picketing at the offices of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, should not happen again.
He was commenting on the 50 percent payment of the arrears owed the food suppliers that the government is making.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, July 18, the ranking member on the committee of education in parliament said “Half a loaf is better than none is what I will say. First of all, my hope is that the food suppliers would accept the 50 percent payment. You will recall that only yesterday [Monday, July 17] they had indicated that they wanted full payment so whether they will accept the 50 percent or not we are yet to see.
“Let this be the last time that we are witnessing such a situation. Government should endeavor to meet its obligations to people that it has a contractual agreement, particularly to supplying food to our students in the secondary schools.”
On Tuesday, the Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong announced that an amount of GHS100 million cedis out of the GHS203 million owed to some food suppliers who have been picketing at the offices of national food buffer stock had been transferred into the accounts.
He said by today Wednesday, July 19, the first part of the arrears would be paid and the remaining arrears will be settled by 17th August.
He said these while making a statement in parliament after the Speaker summoned him and the Ministers of Finance and of Education Ken Ofori-Atta and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum respectively over the issue of the food suppliers.
“We still owe suppliers a little above GHS203 million. Last week we received GHS100 million which is 50 percent of what is due the suppliers, we have transferred same through the processes to buffer stock. We are hoping that by midweek this week that 50 percent will be sent to the suppliers.
“I have also assured the suppliers that as we commence the payment of the 50 percent on the 17th of July, by the 17th of August the remaining 50 percent will be paid.”
The Agric Minister’s comments come at a time a spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association, Koku Amedume said that they would not accept partial payments as the government reschedules payment to them.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture assured that their funds had been released for payment to be made by Wednesday, July 19.
Addressing the press on Monday, July 17, he said “We are expecting full settlement of our money because our money has been long overdue, interest has accumulated, banks are on us to take our properties, members are languishing in abject poverty
“We can no longer accept a meager payment in the settlement, we are here to take the full payment and we are interested in the full payment without which we will resume our picketing right after Thursday.”
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
