General News
School Feeding Caterers in Nkwanta North Issue One-Week Ultimatum Over Unpaid Arrears
Frustrated school feeding caterers in Nkwanta North hold a meeting to demand their unpaid wages after months of waiting
Caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region have issued a one-week ultimatum to the government to settle outstanding payments or face industrial action.
The caterers, responsible for providing one hot meal per day to pupils in public basic schools, claim they have not been paid for the second term of the 2024–2025 academic year. Of the 55 caterers in the district, only 42 have received payment, leaving 13 still in arrears.Speaking on behalf of the group, spokesperson Solomon Kakiba expressed deep frustration over repeated unfulfilled promises by district authorities.“We have fulfilled our part by preparing and serving the meals.
The government must honor its obligation to pay us,” Mr. Kakiba stated. “If payment is not made within one week, there will be serious consequences.”The caterers have held several meetings with the District Chief Executive (DCE), Isaiah Dordoe, and other officials, but no concrete resolution has been reached. The delay has pushed many into financial distress, with mounting debts to food suppliers.“We are borrowing to keep the programme running.
This cannot continue,” one caterer told reporters.Some members have threatened to block access to schools if the arrears are not cleared by the deadline.The GSFP, a flagship social intervention aimed at improving nutrition and school attendance among pupils, has faced persistent challenges with delayed payments in various districts nationwide.As of now, the government has not issued an official response to the ultimatum.
