Helena Appiah, Secretary of the School Feeding Caterers’ Association, has stated unequivocally that members of the association will not agree to the terms of Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, caretaker Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The caretaker Gender Minister in a recent interview on Asempa FM noted that the ministry intends to repay 12 days in arrears out of the 68 working days owing to the caterers of the School Feeding Programme Policy.
However, in an interview with Don Kwabena Prah on Happy98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show, the disgruntled group of caterers registered their displeasure over unfair treatment by the government and the ministry.
According to the School Feeding Caterers’ Association, they would only return to post only when their three conditions are addressed.
“We came on this platform to let the ministry know our concerns and address them urgently. It is very sad and insensitive that we the media always have to come in before we can receive the salary we toiled for. This time around we won’t only talk but take necessary actions to ensure that we get what is due us.
Firstly, the arrangements disclosed by the caretaker minister, Hon Cecilia Dapaah intended to only pay our arrears of 12 days, we want to make it known that we won’t agree to that and never will. Our second is to receive full payment of our 68 working day arrears and the third is to see to it that our increment from 1 cedi to 3 cedis is fulfilled.
Even when the ministry fulfils our second demand of paying our 68 days of arrears in full without making it known that they will see to the increment of the feeding programme from 1cedis to 3 cedis we will not continue working for the secondary schools.
Earlier this year, the Minister responsible for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah on the floor of Parliament announced the suspension of the expansion of the School Feeding Programme to allow debts owed to caterers to be cleared.
Nonetheless, the attempts from the ministry to clear all arrears owed to caterers have not been futile as the caterers have since expressed agitation and cautioned of a nationwide strike.
By: Jude Tackie
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