The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) caterers have said they will not accept the GHS1.20 proposed increment by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The caterers say the increment is unacceptable as it is insufficient.

Despite Gender Minister Lariba Zuweira Abudu’s announcement that the caterers will be paid their outstanding arrears for the third term of the 2022 academic year, the spokesperson for the caterers in the Ashanti Region Dorothy Ofori Sarpong indicated they are still on strike.

“We are not going to cook, we are still on strike, though the Minister has spoken. What she came to say wasn’t to our satisfaction," she noted.

According to the caterers in the Ashanti Region, they are owed arrears dating as far back as 2019. Hence, they will not agree with the Gender Minister when she says all arrears have been cleared.

“There are arrears as far back as 2019, 2020, and 2021… so if she is saying all arrears have been paid, it is not so. With the amount of GHS1.20 proposal, we are not going to agree,” Ms Sarpong stated.

The spokesperson for the caterers in the Ashanti Region added: “We cannot use this to cook any better food for the children and so we pray that she goes back and come and tell us something better.”

Speaking at a press conference held in Accra, Sunday, 4 June 2023, the Gender Minister had revealed the increase of the cost per meal per child.

“In 2023, the cost per meal, per child, per day has currently been proposed as ₵1.20, and we’re still in talks with the Ministry of Finance to see how best we can help, if it can be reviewed, we’ll let you know,” the Gender Minister said.

She noted that: “As at April 2023, the ministry in collaboration with Ministry of Finance has paid the first and second term arrears of 2022 academic year, I want to give the assurance here that, next week caterers’ arrears will be paid.”

“We have done all the validation, we have done the auditing and I want to ensure that the auditing and due diligence is done so next week we’re paying,” the Gender Minister added.