The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) assured has it will pay all caterers their outstanding claims this month.

A statement signed by Communications Advisor to the ministry, Abraham Asare, said “all outstanding arrears will be paid by the third week of this month and it shall be done electronically.”

It said this is part of the restructuring being undertaken since the ministry assumed responsibility for the National School Feeding Programme on 1^st August, 2015 following a directive from the President.

The stamen noted that all payments must first be approved by the Sector Ministry before they will be paid.

“To facilitate the payments, a rapid assessment audit is being conducted. A comprehensive audit of the School Feeding Programme will be conducted next year,” the statement revealed.

“The following decisions have also been taken:

“All procurements have been cancelled and or suspended, pending review. Consequently, any supplier who processes any order for supplies from any official of the School Feeding Programme without the power of approval of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, does so at his or her own risk. Furthermore, any School Feeding Official who undertakes procurement without due process and authorisation from the Sector Ministry is personally liable.

“The Ministry is reviewing all contracts under the School Feeding Programme. New contracts will be executed from January 2015.

“The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection would like to assure all stakeholders, that it is committed to ensuring that the School Feeding Programme maintains its objective of providing one hot nutritious meal to school children any time they are in school. This will eventually result in increasing school enrolment, attendance, retention and cognition, thereby reducing hunger and malnutrition.”