The National Food Buffer Stock Company has been given a 14-day deadline by the National Food Suppliers Association to pay back unpaid debts.
The suppliers’ ability to continue operating their businesses has been made challenging, according to the Association, which is a cause for concern.
They assert that despite prior attempts to draw attention to their complaints, the government has not done so.
The National Food Buffer Stock Company’s offices will be the site of a picket once the ultimatum period has passed, according to Association spokesperson Kwaku Amedume, in response to the lack of action.
“The Buffer Stock Company has for the past one and a half years failed to pay for the various foodstuffs supplied to senior high schools by our members. Apart from the numerous letters addressed to the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Ministry of Education and the National Food Buffer Stock Company, several attempts have been made by members of our Association to have the monies paid, but all have proven to be unsuccessful.
“We are by this press conference, serving notice to the National Food Buffer Stock Company that failure to pay us in fourteen days from now, we will resort to picketing at the offices of the National Food Buffer Stock Company.”
Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, a member of the Parliament’s Food and Agriculture Committee, is pleading with the government to pay off its debt to the National Food Buffer Stock Company so that it can release funds to the National Food Suppliers Association.
According to Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, the member of parliament for Keta, if the government does not pay the arrears within the window, the Free Senior High School policy may be jeopardised.
The legislator also called the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s inability to store food for emergencies as pitiful.
