Caterers in the School Feeding Programme have declared a nationwide strike in response to the government’s failure to pay their arrears and increase the amount per child.
The disgruntled caterers, who gathered in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, stressed that laying down their tools is the only option available to them right now.
The caterers expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation during a press conference.
The caterers’ leadership has thus urged all members across the country to join the strike in order to pressure the government to address their concerns as soon as possible.
In an interview with the media, one of the caterers’ leaders, Gifty Asamoah, stated that they have exhausted all of their funds and have yet to hear from the government about when their arrears will be paid.
She claimed that, despite providing vital services in schools, school-feeding caterers are not treated with the same respect as other professions.
“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 nationwide strike if their arrears are not paid as soon as possible.
