SHS/TVET Food Vendors To Strike Over 10 Months Unpaid Services

Some students during their lunch break

 

SEVERAL FOOD vendors who cook for day students in Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are gearing up to picket at the Ministry of Education over 10 months of unpaid services.

According to the caterers, who are referred to as “One Hot Meal Vendors”, the government has refused to pay them after months of rendering services to the ministry, emphasising that they intend to embark on a demonstration to register their displeasure.

They also accused the Coordinator in charge of School Feeding, Benita Okity-Duah, and the sector minister Haruna Iddrisu of ignoring their numerous pleas.

Elizabeth Quartey Nkrumah, a caterer, in an interview with United TV late-night news, said the association, numbering over 200 members, has been stranded following the change of government.

“Upon assumption of power, government directives to us were to deal directly with the heads of the day SHS, as they would fund our catering services. We’ve been cooking for these students, but no payment. Our contract expired, and we were cautioned not to continue. We started requesting arrears, and we were promised payment in September,” she said.

Ms. Nkrumah further stated that upon trying to engage the Education Minister, the association members were prevented from engaging the minister.

Monica Afriyie, spokesperson for the association, stated that the contract with the ministry states that after pre-financing the feed cost, “you are given 21 days to pay for the services.”

“Since the assumption of power by the new government, we have not been paid, the reason behind our agitation and eagerness to meet the minister on the issues,” she said.

Ms. Afriyie added that the unpaid services are causing havoc to caterers, saying, “Many of our colleagues are owing loans because it is pre-finance that we take in loans to cushion our services.”

BY Prince Fiifi Yorke

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