owes 5,000 caterers<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> to the tune of about GHC100 million feeding grant for the 2013\/2014 academic year.<\/p>\n[contextly_sidebar id=”PgpnclKigYOb7kJIeVa0XTcrMzbuXNlV”]This includes a 40-day outstanding payment for the first term and the outstanding payment for the whole of the 71 days in the second term.<\/p>\n
The caterers earlier this year threatened to stop preparing meals for the pupils if the GSFP failed to release money to them within two weeks.<\/p>\n
But speaking on \u2018Behind the News\u2019 on Radion Ghana, the PRO Mr Siiba Alfa said \u201cwe acknowledge the concerns of caterers and all stakeholders that we are owing them some 129 school going days but we are working around the clock to be able to address this concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
He assured that resources are being mobilized to pay the caterers their arrears.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in contact with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning that very soon, resources are being mobilized for us to be able to pay the caterers the arreas we owe them. The issue is that we know that whatever it is we are very confident that monies will be released today or tomorrow but what is it is that by the close of this week or perhaps early next week \u00a0they should be hearing something fruitful from us if not the release of the feeding grant,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
When asked how the GSFP would ensure that food they cook were under strict hygienic conditions against cholera, Mr Siiba said all the caterers have been ordered to obtain health certification letters from the Health Directorate in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).<\/p>\n
The GSFP started with 65,000 children in 2005 and is now feeding about 1.7 million children in 5,000 schools in 216 districts.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, public schools within the country re-opened on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n