The Food Suppliers Association of Ghana in the Middle Belt has welcomed the recent statement by Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine, which they believe vindicates their long-standing complaints about unpaid monies by the National Food Buffer Stock Company.
According to the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Iddrisu Zakari, suppliers have been struggling to get paid since 2017 despite supplying maize to senior high schools.
In an exclusive interview with Apiah-Kubi on Fabea FM, Alhaji Zakari emphasized that the Buffer Stock Company allegedly failed to adhere to the 90-day payment period, leaving suppliers to bear the financial burden.
“We sacrifice a lot for the sustainability of the food supply policy, but sometimes the program is politicized, which affects us,” Alhaji Zakari said.
He added that despite the Buffer Stock Company’s claims of having no food in stock to supply to senior high schools, it was the food suppliers who actually stepped in to help sustain the policy.
The suppliers claim they’ve been forced to procure food on credit from farmers, exacerbating their financial struggles.
“We’ve been waiting for payment for over six years, with some debts dating back to 2017,” Alhaji Zakari added.
“We get information that monies have been paid by the Buffer Stock CEO, but it does not reflect in our accounts or we do not get any notifications,” the PRO stressed, highlighting the lack of transparency in the payment process.
In reference to the current NAFCO CEO, George Obradu-Otoo’s response to the Attorney general’s report about his predecessor, the food suppliers association PRO agreed that the situation is deeply unfortunate.
“It’s unfortunate the association has suffered
reputational damage”, Alhaji Zakari bemoaned.
The Association is pleading with the government to settle outstanding payments and extend John Mahama’s “reset agenda” to include reforms at the Buffer Stock Company.
Source: Apiah-Kubi – Fabea FM.
