News:
August 3, 2011
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Aquinas Quansah has assured Caterers under the National School Feeding Programme that their monies due them would be paid by the end of this week.
According to him, the delay in paying the caterers is not attributed to the lack of funds to pay, but to enable the ministry correct some anomalies in the programme.
Caterers under the National School Feeding Programme in the Greater Accra Region have complained that they have not been paid for their services rendered since last term, threatening they would not continue working come next academic year in September if they are not paid.
The delay in payment has also fueled speculations that the programme is gradually running out of cash and may not be sustained.
However contributing to a panel discussion on e.tv Ghana’s BREAKFAST TV show, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Aquinas Quansah stated that ministry has constituted a taskforce which is aimed at working to streamline the programme to ensure its effectiveness.
He said the ministry realized that the School Feeding Programme was not being operated in schools that really needed the programme and there was the need for that irregularity to be rectified.
“We realize that some well endowed schools like the Achimota Basic School had their pupils being served with food from the school feeding programme while less privileged pupils in the hinterlands did not enjoy this service, obviously this is unfair and very wrong’’ he said.
Hon. Aquinas Quansah who is also a Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West, noted that the government remained committed to expanding and sustaining the school feeding programme, adding that about 300,000 pupils would be enrolled onto the programme by the end of 2011.
Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh