Thousands of pupils in the Krachi East Municipality are at risk of having their school meals disrupted as caterers and cooks under the Ghana School Feeding Programme threaten to suspend services over months of unpaid allowances.
The cooks, who prepare daily meals for pupils in public basic schools across the municipality, say they have continued working despite not receiving payment for several months.
Some of them, including Madam Mariama Adisah, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they have been forced to rely on personal savings and loans to keep the programme running while also catering for their own families.
“We have been patient for too long. Some of us borrowed money just to continue cooking for the children because we know many of them depend on the meals. If the money is not paid soon, we will have no option but to stop,” she said.
According to the cooks, several engagements with caterers over the delayed payments have yielded only assurances, with no actual disbursement of funds.
They have therefore issued what they describe as a final ultimatum, warning that they will withdraw their services if outstanding allowances are not paid immediately.
Some caterers, speaking to the GNA on condition of anonymity, also revealed that they have not received any financial support from the government since they were engaged under the programme.
They explained that the prolonged delay in the release of funds has placed significant financial strain on their operations, forcing many to rely on loans, credit purchases, and personal savings to sustain school feeding activities.
Food suppliers, they said, have now begun demanding cash payments upfront due to unpaid debts, making it increasingly difficult to access basic food items.
“We have been using our own money to support the programme because we did not want the children to suffer, but things have become extremely difficult. Traders are refusing to supply on credit because previous debts have not been settled,” one caterer said.
They added that rising food prices and transport costs have further worsened the situation, leaving many operators indebted to local traders and financial institutions after borrowing to purchase essential ingredients such as rice, beans, cooking oil, and fish.
The caterers warned that if funds are not urgently released, they may be forced to suspend cooking activities, a situation they say could disrupt academic work and affect thousands of pupils who depend on the daily meals.
They are therefore appealing to the government, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the National School Feeding Secretariat to expedite the release of funds to prevent a collapse of the programme in the municipality.
