Food Suppliers Spend Two Nights At Food Buffer Stock Company: Demand Prompt Payment Of Debt From Government
- Disgruntled food suppliers in Ghana are picketing at the head office of the Buffer Stock Company over debts
- They say the government owes them at least GH¢270 million, representing at least two years of constant food supply to the national food buffer
- They say they will picket at the company until they receive their money although the agric minister has assured them that there are plans to settle their debts
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There is mass discontent among food suppliers in Ghana over the Nana Akufo-Addo government's failure to pay them debts that have piled up for over two years.
For two nights straight, scores of food suppliers most of them female spent the in the open at the premises of the National Food Buffer Stock Company.
Source: UGC
The company manages the state's emergency food security reserves by working with farmers and other food suppliers to mop up excess produce from all farmers to reduce post-harvest losses like spoilage due to poor storage.
The food suppliers spent their nights on July 5 and 6 at the premises of the company.
Social media has been inundated with images and videos of the food suppliers sleeping under rough weather conditions. They plan to picket until Friday, July 7, 2023.
Agric minister assures suppliers debts would be paid soon
On July 6, 2023, the agric minister Bryan Acheampong told the picketing food suppliers that he would speak to the Ministry of Finance to have their two years arrears settled.
The minister also assured them that he would get to them with a date the payment would be made by Friday afternoon.
Despite the assurance, the food suppliers picketed, explaining that the minister's promises were not enough.
"We are sleeping till Friday. Minister of Agriculture Bryan Acheampong came to give some assurances. He said he will have a discussion with the Finance Minister. And plans will be put in place to ensure that we are paid. But we told the minister that we will be waiting for him on Friday for the feedback he brings," of them aggrieved food suppliers told the media.
Government owes food suppliers over GH¢270 million
The food suppliers have organised themselves into the National Food Suppliers Association. Some of their members started picketing on July 4, 2023.
According to them, they have been compelled to take the drastic of picketing because the government owes them a whopping GH¢270 million.
Food vendors without health certificates to be prosecuted
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported in a separate story that health authorities have announced that street food vendors without a health certificate would be punished.
The move comes after rampant instances of food poisoning, some fatal, reported in parts of the country.
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly for instance has started a fierce screening campaign at all food joints in the metropolis to ensure compliance with the new move.
Fan Milk Plc recalls FanYogo after widespread consumer complaints
Also in another story, Fan Milk Plc has recalled FanYogo from the market after widespread negative feedback about the ice cream's texture.
The company has explained that the different texture was caused by the source of one of its raw materials for the products Fan Milk Plc said in a statement dated July 3, 2023, that the product is safe for public consumption.
The manufacturer has however announced selected depots where the problematic ice cream batch may be deposited for a refund.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
