Facts about Ghana school feeding disclosed

Facts about Ghana school feeding

The Caterer who is concurrently the National Secretary of the Volta Regional School Feeding Caterers’ Association, Mr. Francis Tosu has disclosed some pain-flinching facts about the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

Mr. Francis Tosu in his submission detailed that he was compelled to disclose some facts about the Ghana School Feeding program due to the “peddled half-truths and falsehoods” which Mr. Korbla Asomaning who is the personal assistant of Dr. Gertrude Kwashiga (the National Coordinator of Ghana School Feeding Programme) set loose in a media engagement.

He (Mr. Francis Tosu) addressed all the eating-up issues under six (6) major topics for a better and clearer grasp of what is happening on the grounds.

ALL DISCLOSED FACTS ABOUT THE SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME

Government owes Caterers 3 terms

He stated categorically that it has become a practice government to delay the payment of Caterers for their rendered services.

Without mincing words, he voiced that “It must be stated that payment for the 2nd term of 2022 academic year was completed after schools went on holidays for the 1st term of 2023 academic year.”

That means prior to the said payment, the government owed Caterers the 2nd term of 2022, 3rd term of 2022, and 1st term of 2023.

Recent payments to Caterers

Next, he delved into the recent payment made by the government.

On this issue, he said, “government just finished paying for 2nd term of the 2022 academic year with over 200 million Ghana cedis.”

Proving his first addressed point, he said “It is clear that before this last payment government owed caterers for 3 terms” due to the recent payment made which is out of the term they worked.

The issue of Non-cooking days deductions

Mr. Francis Tosu disclosed with heartfelt emotions that government does not pay the Caterers on time therefore, they do not expect the government to instruct the Caterers to go to the kitchen and undertake their responsibility on time.

Teachers’ strike in 2nd term of 2022 payment issues

Further, the Teachers’ strike during the 2nd term of the 2022 academic year was also captured in his address.

On this very heartbroken concern bordering his association members, asked” How many days did the strike last?”

“Were the caterers not told to cook during the said strike?”

Adding, he said the government ordered them to continue their assigned tasks, “Why now deduct all caterers?”

Per his address, a lump sum amount of money was deducted from their salary.

“How many days of the strike action can elicit deductions of 17000, 8000, 10000 ghana cedis, etc, etc”

Call for redress procedures on Caterer-related concerns

He said, “There is too much centralization in the management of the programme.”

Mr. Francis Tosu stated straightforwardly that there must be a fine medium for Caterer to address their grievances instead of traveling to the Regional capital /or Accra for discussion on issues concerning payments before it gets rectified.

He asked again that “Why are Caterers always required to submit daily record forms to District Desk Officers?”

According to him, “the demand to submit forms to Accra in the event of anomalies is just a strategy to frustrate Caterers to forgo whatever is due them.”

Demand for an increase in the rate for Caterers

Finally, he touched on the demand for an increase in the rate for Caterers.

He called for an increase in their rate and assured the government that failure to address their concern will compel them to halt work until a new rate is announced.

Mr. Tosu stated emphatically that government “pays 97 pesewas for meals in this day and age.”

Speaking to the issues that compelled him to disclose the facts, he asked referred by saying that “It is claimed some Caterers do not have a contractual agreement before cooking, why does the Secretariat validate such people at the end of every term?”

“Why were they not stopped from the very beginning? The Secretariat by reason of conduct and implication seems to rectify these Caterers as part of the programme so funds should be sort to pay them,” he disclosed and seek for answers.

Moreover, he also disclosed that government is yet to pay all Caterers for the hot meals they prepared during the COVID-19 lockdown era.

Again, there is also a six (6) days payment arrears that the government owed caterers since the time that Madam Cynthia Morrison was the Sector Minister.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh