Nkwanta North School Feeding Caterers Issue One-Week Ultimatum to Government Over Unpaid Arrears

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 their outstanding arrears or face unspecified actions.

The aggrieved caterers say they have not received payment for services rendered during the second term of the 2024–2025 academic year, despite several assurances from both district and national authorities. Out of 55 caterers in the district, only 42 have reportedly been paid, leaving 13 still without their due compensation.

Speaking on behalf of the affected group, Solomon Kakiba, spokesperson for the caterers, expressed deep frustration over what he described as neglect and unfulfilled promises by the government.

“We worked for it; the government must pay us! We have waited long enough, and if nothing is done within a week, there will be consequences,” he declared.

Mr. Kakiba revealed that several meetings with the District Chief Executive (DCE), Isaiah Dordoe, and other local officials have not yielded any concrete results. He lamented that the persistent delays in payment have pushed many caterers into financial distress, forcing some to borrow money to sustain their operations.

“We’ve met with the DCE multiple times, and each time we’re told the matter will soon be resolved. Yet, nothing changes. Our debts are piling up, and we can’t continue to feed schoolchildren on credit. It’s becoming unbearable,” he lamented.

Some of the affected caterers who spoke to MyJoyOnline hinted that they may resort to drastic measures, including blocking access to schools, if their arrears are not cleared within the one-week deadline.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme, introduced to enhance enrollment and improve nutrition among pupils in public basic schools, provides one hot meal daily to learners. However, the initiative has been marred by recurring delays in payments to caterers across several districts in recent years, sparking repeated protests and threats of withdrawal of service.

As of press time, government authorities had yet to officially respond to the ultimatum issued by the Nkwanta North caterers.