The leadership of the National Food Suppliers Association, after meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adu Twum noted that it has refused to accept the government’s proposal of part payment of their arrears owed.
According to the association, the government through the Education minister asked them to accept part payment of their 2022 arrears, but accumulated interests on loans contracted by members of the association, they cannot accept the proposal.
Speaking on Newslink on A1 Radio, the spokesperson of the Association, Kwaku Amedume noted that at the meeting, the Minister asserted that an amount of Ghc 283 000,000,000 was released in 2022 to the Buffer Stock Company for payment of arrears in 2022, “but as we speak we are yet to receive a penny of the said amount.”
He added that the Minister had disclosed that a total amount of Four Hundred and Eighteen Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 418,000,000,000) was released to the National Food Buffer Stock Company between the periods of 2021, 2022 and 2023. One Hundred Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 100, 000,000,000), Two Hundred and Eighty Three Million Ghana Cedis (283,000,000,000) and Thirty Five Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 35, 000,000,000) respectively.
But all these payments, the spokesperson however indicated none of their members have received any payment from the Buffer Stock Company.
Below is also a press release by the association after meeting with the Education Minister
“PRESS RELEASE
The leadership of the National Food Suppliers Association met with the Minister of Education, Hon. Adu Twum on the 11th of July, 2023, at the Ministry of Education to discuss the indebtedness of the National Food Buffer Stock Company to the members of National Food Suppliers Association.
According to the Minister of Education he has released a total amount of Four Hundred and Eighteen Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 418,000,000) to the National Food Buffer Stock Company between the periods of 2021, 2022 and 2023. One Hundred Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 100, 000,000), Two Hundred and Eighty Three Million Ghana Cedis (283,000,000) and Thirty Five Million Ghana Cedis (Ghc 35, 000,000)) respectively.
It is worthy to note, that, even though the Minister asserts to have released an amount of Ghc 283 000,000 in 2022 to the Buffer Stock Company for payment of arrears in 2022, members of the National Suppliers Association is yet to receive a penny of the said amount.
The Hon. Minister intimated to the executives of the National Food Suppliers Association that, in January 2023, the amount paid ( Ghc 35, 000,000) was the remaining balance of the 2022 arrears owed to the National Food Suppliers Association.
The Minister pledged, that,the Ministry of Finance is in the process of releasing part of our arrears this week and that government is not in the position to pay our arrears in full.
We wish to state, that, we are not prepared to accept part payment of the 2022 arrears, given the fact that individual members have accumulated interests on their loans contracted from their respective banks.
Yours Truly”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
