The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo, has announced that the Ministry of Finance has transferred an amount of GH₵31million as settlement in respect of the debts owed to school feeding caterers in the country.
He explained that the arrears owed to the caterers were not defrayed due to inadequacy of government funds.
In his second-tour of the Western Region, President Akuffo-Addo made this declaration during an interview in Takoradi.
The President further expressed his excitement about the funds released to caterers, especially the ones in the Western and Western North Regions.
“I am happy to announce that payments have been made to caterers in all the regions. It is true that caterers in the Western and Western North were not paid due to insufficient funds. That has been resolved. The Ministry of Finance has released GH₵31 million cedis for the payment of caterers.”
President Akuffo-Addo
Meanwhile, prior to President Akuffo-Addo’s revelation, the Ghana National School Feeding Caterers Association (GNSFCA) has petitioned the Akuffo-Addo’s administration to raise the feeding fees from GH¢1.00 to GH¢1.50 pesewas, representing a 50 percent increase.
According the GNSFCA, the current fee is insufficient to cater for much given the recent state of the economy.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mrs. Caroline Aboagye, the Public Relations Officer of GNSFCA explained that raising the existing feeding fee by 50 percent will induce caterers to prepare delicious and more nutritious meals for the students.
President Akuffo-Addo’s 4-day tour
President Akufo-Addo on Friday 3rd September, 2021, commenced a 4-day tour of Western and Western North Regions.
As part of his tour, he will interact with traditional authorities, initiate new projects and inspect ongoing ones, as well as commission completed ones.
President Akuffo-Addo will also hold radio interviews to deliberate on national and local issues related to the specific regions.
A recent communique from the Office of the Presidency indicated that the tour will begin in the Western Region.
“The President will visit Wassa Dompim in the Wassa East Constituency to commission the Narubizi Rubber Factory and to the Shama Constituency to commission Phase 3 of the Keda Ceramic Factory. This will be preceded by a call on the Chief of Shama. He will then depart to the Ahanta West Constituency to inspect the progress of work on the Landing Beach in Dixcove and meet with Nzema Chiefs in Esiama in the Ellembelle constituency to end the day’s schedule.”
Office of the Presidency
“Day 2 of the Western regional tour will begin with a radio interaction on Skyy FM, a sod cutting in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency for work to begin on the popular Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa road, inspect work on the Bogoso Polyclinic in the Prestea Huni Valley constituency, followed by a courtesy call on the Chief of Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East constituency to Asankragua in Amenfi West to call on the Chief. He will then inspect work on the TVET School project at Manso Amenfi in the Amenfi Central constituency before heading to Asankragua in Amenfi West to call on the Chief.”
Office of the Presidency
Commissioning of the Municipal Education Office will mark the end of the President Akuffo-Addo’s tour in the Western Region.
Meanwhile, the President of the Republic of Ghana will start his tour of the Western North region with the opening of the Anglican Cathedral in Sefwi Wiawso.
The communique further revealed that he will also pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the area and then commission the new Regional Coordinating Council at Sefwi Wiawso.
After the President’s visit to the chief of Akontombra, he will also commission the Rice Factory in Akontombra under his 1 District 1 Factory (1D1F) agenda.
To end his tour of the two regions, the President of the Republic of Ghana will invite 3 Paramount Chiefs from the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai constituency, where he will inspect construction works on the Business Advisory Centre.
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