Caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) have embarked on a nationwide strike, citing the government’s failure to pay their arrears and increase the amount per child. The strike was announced by the aggrieved caterers at a news conference held in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital. The caterers have called on all members across the country to join the strike to press the government to address their concerns.
The GSFP is a government-run program aimed at providing nutritious meals to pupils in public primary schools across Ghana. The program was launched in 2005 to reduce hunger and malnutrition among school-going children. However, the caterers have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the program, claiming that they are facing harsh economic times due to the government’s failure to pay their arrears and increase the amount per child.
Gifty Asamoah, one of the leaders of the caterers, has lamented that despite providing essential services in schools, school-feeding caterers are not given the same level of respect given to other professions. She called on the government to treat school feeding caterers as public servants like teachers, police, doctors, and nurses. The caterers have threatened to embark on a nationwide demonstration if their arrears are not paid as early as possible.
