Caterers Appeal to President Mahama Over Terminated School Feeding Contracts

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

The Ghana School Feeding Caterers Association has issued a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to intervene in the recent early termination of their contracts. The association says the abrupt cancellations not only contradict campaign assurances made by the President but also threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of caterers across the country.

According to the association’s president, Nana Otu Sakyi-Amo, the decision to terminate the contracts has come as a severe blow, particularly as caterers had prepared extensively for the upcoming school term. She described the move as “unexpected and distressing,” adding that it could lead to severe financial consequences for many of their members.

Speaking in a media interview, Sakyi-Amo reminded the President of promises made during his campaign, particularly the commitment to increase feeding grants and improve conditions for caterers. “Yes, the grants were increased, and we appreciate that,” she acknowledged, “but cancelling our contracts suddenly without warning goes against everything the President promised.”

Many caterers, she said, had taken loans to purchase food items and supplies in anticipation of schools reopening next week. The termination of contracts, therefore, has left them stranded and at risk of defaulting on their loans. “This is not what the President promised us,” Sakyi-Amo emphasized. “President Mahama didn’t promise putting us into debts or letting bankers chase us from our homes because we’ve borrowed money to buy foodstuffs.”

She warned that the lack of clarity and government intervention could disrupt the school feeding programme if not addressed urgently. “We are still pleading with His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to come out and speak through the ministry, so we can go back and cook for the children,” she said.

The School Feeding Programme, a key social intervention initiative aimed at enhancing school enrolment and nutrition, relies heavily on the services of caterers in various districts. Stakeholders now fear that the uncertainty surrounding these contract terminations could destabilize the programme and affect thousands of schoolchildren who depend on the meals for daily sustenance. The caterers are therefore calling for the immediate reinstatement of their contracts or, at the very least, an official explanation and roadmap to ensure the continuity of the programme.