Former Gender Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, has called on government to expedite payment of arrears to caterers under the school feeding programme.
According to her, government must necessarily pay these caterers what is owed them in order for them to continue serving children in the basic schools. She emphasized the need for the government to equally improve the terms and conditions of the Progamme for the caterers.
Madam Dzaba cited the issue of inflation in prices and the high cost of commodities as grounds for the government to increase monies paid these caterers, indicating that government was being unfair to the caterers for the delay in their payment.
Owing to this, she revealed that she was in support of the caterers embarking on a strike action with the justification that they were fighting for their rights.
“The caterers have a valid point. And I feel strongly that I must support and back them. Governments must pay their arrears and increase their amount immediately and have a sitting with them and discuss… They want to know when the increment will be paid, and what is the increment.”
Otiko Afisa Djaba
Furthermore, Madam Djaba made calls for the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, to apologize to caterers under the School Feeding Programme in the region. She insisted that Mr Mensah’s reaction towards the unpaid caterers who recently went to present a petition to him was inappropriate.
“The regional minister of the Ashanti region should have been more tolerant of them and he should apologize to them for his behaviour.”
Otiko Afisa Djaba
The former gender minister stated that the caterers were fighting for justice by petitioning, and their intention was not to disgrace the reputation of any government as some people perceived their strike action to be.
“When they petition, we should understand that they are not petitioning to shame anybody or to spoil anybody’s job. They are fighting for their rights. Fighting for your right is about justice. Where there is no justice, you have chaos. When they refuse to cook because they are not being paid, let nobody be mysterious to say that they are shaming a government or anybody. It is their duty and they need to be respected.”
Otiko Afisa Djaba
Caterers under school feeding prorgamme declare strike
Meanwhile, the caterers under the School Feeding Programme have declared a nationwide strike on April 27, over government’s failure to pay them their arrears and increase the amount paid per child from 97 pesewas to GH¢3.50.
According to the National Organiser of the School Feeding Association, Kwame Amankwaah, the caterers intend to return to the kitchen only after government agrees to increase the amount per child. He noted that caterers will only return to the kitchen once the government agrees to increase the amount per child from 97 pesewas to GHC3.50.
Justifying his stance, he explained that prices of goods and services have skyrocketed making it difficult for caterers to manage the 97 pesewas government gives them which has been in arrears.
“97 pesewas for a child, how? Check around, one egg is GH¢3, how do you cook for a child for 97 pesewas? And you are asking us to go and cook, things are expensive and the amount given us is woefully inadequate. If they are able to give us at least GH¢3.50 per a child we can manage it.”
Kwame Amankwaah
Mr. Amankwaah said they could negotiate with their debtors to get additional supplies if government engages them on their demands.
The National Organiser of the School Feeding Association stated that members are saddened by their inability to cook for the students who depend on them.
“We are not happy at all that we are not able to cook for the children. Some even come to schools because of the food because they know that definitely they will have something to eat when they come. Sometimes we sacrifice and buy them water and other stuff.”
Kwame Amankwaah
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