Caterers under the School Feeding Programme have called a statewide strike in response to the government’s inability to pay their arrears and raise the amount per child.
The disgruntled caterers, who gathered in the Ashanti regional capital of Kumasi, emphasised that putting down their tools is the only choice left to them right now.
The caterers complained at a press conference that they are experiencing difficult economic times as a result of the circumstance.
The leadership of the caterers has thus urged all members across the country to join the strike to impress on the government to address their concerns as early as possible.
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In an interview with the media, one of the caterers’ leaders, Gifty Asamoah, stated that they had depleted all of their finances and have yet to hear from the government about when their arrears will be paid.
She argued that, although providing vital services in schools, school-feeding caterers are not treated with the same respect as other professionals.
“School feeding caterers are public servants like teachers, Police, Doctors, nurses and other employees that provide state services but we are being discriminated against. Can government refuse to pay teachers for even one month, why are they doing the opposite when it comes to caterers? A contract is a contract and our human rights must be abused.”
The caterers have also threatened a statewide strike if their debts are not paid as soon as possible.
SOURCE: CITINEWS
