Suppliers to Picket Education Ministry Over GH¢50m Debt

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) says it will go ahead with its planned protest at the Ministry of Education despite fresh assurances from government officials over outstanding payments under the Free Senior High School programme.

The association is demanding the release of about GH¢50 million for supplies delivered to public senior high schools since 2023. These include school uniforms, house dresses, and school cloths provided to students under the government’s flagship Free SHS policy.

The decision to picket follows a meeting between NAIS and officials of the Free SHS Secretariat. At that meeting, suppliers were briefed on efforts to process their claims and urged to remain patient. But the association insists the assurances are not enough to stop the protest.

In a statement issued on June 3, NAIS explained that the picketing exercise had become necessary because of the prolonged delay in settling debts owed to its members. According to the association, suppliers have not received payment for goods supplied since 2023 despite repeated engagements with the relevant authorities.

President of NAIS, Emmanuel Ayivor, said government promises have failed to translate into actual payments. He noted that while members welcomed the engagement with the Free SHS Secretariat, they remain dissatisfied with the continued delays.

Mr. Ayivor stressed that the association is determined to proceed with Thursday’s picket at the Ministry of Education until concrete steps are taken to clear the arrears. He warned that the delays are affecting the operations of suppliers and threatening the sustainability of businesses that have already fulfilled contracts.

Suppliers argue that the situation is undermining confidence in the Free SHS programme. They say many businesses are struggling to stay afloat because of the unpaid debts, and some risk shutting down if payments are not made soon.

The planned demonstration is expected to pile further pressure on authorities to resolve the longstanding payment concerns. NAIS says the protest is aimed at securing immediate release of funds owed for contracts executed over the past two years.

The Free SHS programme remains one of the government’s flagship social interventions, providing free secondary education to thousands of students across the country. However, concerns over delayed payments to service providers and suppliers have periodically emerged as a challenge to its implementation.