The Spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association of Ghana (NAFSAG), Kwaku Amedume, has disclosed that the attempt of the association to get the government to pay its members the arrears it owes them has proven unsuccessful, indicating the association intends to picket at the Mininstry of Education if the government fails to pay suppliers.
He noted that the government continues to give unqualified excuses as to why it cannot pay suppliers after it had promised to do so, indicating that the government’s excuses are infuriating because the government seems to give preferential treatment to some suppliers when making payments.
“The sequence at which they are paid seems to be regular – as expected – as compared to others under the same category (Commodity Exchange) and a majority of under Buffer Stock suppliers”.
Kwaku Amedume
He revealed that Buffer Stock initially supplied the largest amount of food, to ensure efficiency in the delivery of foodstuff, Commodity Exchange was made to take up half of the delivery while Buffer Stock retained half.
However, he indicated that the fifty percent share each in the delivery of goods that both suppliers had, did not work out as expected as Commodity Exchange is more of a middle-man than a supplier.
He noted that the fact that Commodity Exchange has no experience in procurement nor warehouses to store goods also renders it unqualified to engage in the supply business.
Moreover, Mr. Amedume indicated that Buffer Stock on the other hand has warehouses and silos that keep foodstuff dry and save until they will be distributed. He noted that Buffer Stock also has the procurement capacity to procure products right from the source ensuring an all-time access to food.
“So we don’t understand why some percentage of Buffer Stock’s activities were given to Commodity Exchange which has worsened the situation,” Mr. Amedume said.
Unfair Payment Practices
Mr. Amedume stated that it is expected that when the government releases money for the disbursement purpose, fifty percent of the money should be paid to suppliers of Buffer Stock while the other half will be paid to the suppliers of Commodity Exchange.
He noted that what has been the case, however, is that special arrangements have been made for some suppliers of Commodity Exchange to be paid regularly which is unfair to other suppliers of Commodity Exchange and Buffer Stock.
“They [Commodity Exchange’s] are paid more than 80% of their money to the Ministry of Education and we find it very difficult to understand the situation. …that particular procurement under Commodity Exchange is under direct supervision control of the Ministry of Education”.
Kwaku Amedume
He revealed that Commodity Exchange has a lot of problems associated with its operations, indicating that Commodity Exchange charges suppliers a whopping sum of GH₵ 5,000.00 for registration and makes payments without issuing receipts.
He noted that it is expected that any payment made to the government should have a receipt validating it. “Buffer Stock on the other hand charges GH₵ 500.00 for the registration of its members” he added.
Mr. Amedume indicated that there is a price disparity in the procurements operations of Commodity Exchange, alleging that suppliers of the same condition who are supplying the same quantity and quality of goods are paid different amounts for their goods.
He indicated that the association, NAFSAG, intends to picket at the Ministry of Education (MoE) if the government does not pay its members the arrears it woes them after the two-week ultimatum given by the association is over.
Mr. Amedume emphasized that should the Ministry deny the association access to its premises, the association will picket at the Ministry’s forefront until their demands are met, arguing that it is unfair to invest resources in a venture and have no returns on such a venture.
Conclusively, should the government fail to make payment for the goods provided to schools, feeding situations in the various pre-tertiary schools nationwide will be dire putting financial burden on parents and guardians to provide food for their wards.
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