The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has debunked the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) claim that arrears owed the association have been settled.

The Ministry of Education in a statement released, on April 15, 2024, announced that the Government has disbursed GH₵ 26 million to the Institutional Suppliers, responsible for the supply of school uniforms, P.E. kits, and stationery, among others.

Accordingly, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Institutional Suppliers, Emmanuel Ayivor confirmed, on the said date, that the Ministry of Education has begun disbursing payments to settle arrears to the association.

However, in a statement released by the Institutional Suppliers on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, the group indicated that the promise made by the Ministry to settle the arrears remains unfulfilled.

The press statement also specified that the Ministry’s assertion that a total of GHC26 million has been disbursed to pay arrears owed to suppliers of uniforms, PE kits, and stationery is misleading.

The Association has also clarified that none of its members has been awarded a contract for the supply of PE kits and stationery for the past seven years.

As such, the association alleged that a substantial portion of the GHC26 million has gone to other suppliers whom the Ministry of Education may have a private contract with.

“It must be noted that for the past seven years when the award of contracts for the supply of PE Kits and stationery was moved from the school level to the ministry level, suppliers of the PE kits and stationery have remained anonymous and are not members of our association.
NAIS

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers also averred that the settling of arrears has taken a selective approach, thus posing a challenge in identifying the payments made to members of the association.

Moreover, the association also alleged that according to the Ministry of Education’s records, some suppliers have been marked as paid when they have not actually received payment.

Furthermore, the association revealed that upon investigation, it was found that the Ministry’s invoices have gone missing, which has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Ministry’s financial transactions concerning the association.

Missing Invoices Complicate Payment

Moreover, the association pointed out that the absence of invoices has further complicated the matter, resulting in the Ministry making unsubstantiated claims of payment, which has heightened the risk of financial mismanagement and undermined the integrity of the payment process.

“In light of these revelations, we call upon the ministry to urgently fulfill its commitment to pay all outstanding arrears without further delay. Additionally, we urge the ministry to implement a transparent and systematic payment process to enhance tracking of payments made to members”
NAIS

Recently, the National Association of Institutional Suppliers has been embroiled in a protracted and recurrent dispute with the Ministry of Education, centering on the Ministry’s outstanding debts and unpaid arrears, which has led to a tense stalemate between the two parties.

Moreover, the association has leveled several allegations against the Ministry, including the claim that non-payment of arrears and the practice of sole-sourcing products from private individuals outside of the association have pushed its members to the brink of bankruptcy.

Despite the Ministry’s assertion that funds have been disbursed for payment, the National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has cast doubt on this claim, suggesting that the Ministry’s supposed payment is covered in mystery and lacks transparency.

As the dispute between the Ministry and the association persists, the Ministry must settle the outstanding arrears. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to a shortage of essential items in schools across the country, ultimately affecting the quality of education and the well-being of students.