The National Secretariat of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has responded to complaints by some caterers alleging underpayment in the recent disbursement of arrears for the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year.

The Secretariat is urging all affected caterers to remain calm while the issues are thoroughly investigated.
The payment, which was made for 54 cooking days at the rate of One Ghana Cedi and Twenty Pesewas (GH₵1.20) per child per school day, has sparked allegations among some caterers who claim they were paid less than expected.

The appeal by the Secretariat, captured in a statement detailing the payment modalities and signed by the GSFP Head of Public Relations, Siiba Alfa, said these allegations were being taken seriously.

The GSFP statement issued on Monday, July 1, said the academic term, which began on October 3, 2023, included 58 official cooking days. However, caterers were instructed to use the initial four days, from October 3 to October 6, to clean their kitchen environments, resulting in an adjusted total of 54 cooking days.

Consequently, the caterers have been compensated for these 54 days at a rate of GH₵1.20 per child per school day.

Caterers who believe they have been underpaid or not paid at all are instructed to report their issues to their respective Regional Coordinators. The Secretariat has assured that each complaint will be meticulously reviewed to determine if the discrepancies are due to the official non-cooking days from October 3 to October 6, or other factors.

"We urge all caterers to remain calm and patient as we address these issues promptly," stated Siiba Alfa. "Our commitment is to ensure that every caterer receives fair compensation for their invaluable services."

The Secretariat also took the opportunity to commend the caterers for their continued dedication and patience despite the delays in payments. Their efforts are vital to the success of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which significantly contributes to the well-being and education of children nationwide.