School feeding caterers are threatening to strike due to the payment of GH₵1.20 per child instead of the agreed GH₵1.50.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the Progressive School Feeding Caterers Association Ghana is poised to go on strike due to reductions in the approved school feeding grant payments and the non-payment of arrears.

The Progressive School Feeding Caterers Association Ghana, Ashanti Regional branch, issued a statement alleging that the authorities responsible for the program have failed to pay them the approved feeding grant of GH₵1.50 per pupil.

They claim they received payments that were 30 pesewas less than the approved amount.

Caterers nationwide have been advocating for an increase in the school feeding grant from the original GH₵1 per child to GH₵3 due to rising food prices.

Following persistent protests by the caterers, the government eventually agreed to raise the amount.

According to the association, the Coordinator of the School Feeding Programme, Hajia Safia, disclosed on national television that the government had approved GH₵1.50 per child for the feeding fee in the 2023/2024 academic year.

“However, we, the caterers, realized from recent payments that GH₵1.20 was used instead of the GH₵1.50 approved by the government,” parts of the statement noted.

Led by President Gifty Asamoah, the association demands that the government rectify the 30 pesewas shortfall in payments.

The group also urges the government to settle arrears for the second term of the academic year by July 12, 2024.

Furthermore, they request that the third-term feeding grant be disbursed before the start of the next academic year.

Additionally, the association expressed concerns about delays in termly payments, underpayment due to non-cooking days, and the requirement for tax certificates.

They are threatening to withhold their services unless the government and the School Feeding Secretariat address their grievances.