The Food Suppliers Association of Ghana in the Middle Belt has expressed relief and vindication following a recent statement by Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine, which they say confirms their long-standing complaints about unpaid debts owed by the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
According to the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Iddrisu Zakari, food suppliers have been struggling to receive payment for goods supplied to senior high schools since 2017, despite fulfilling their contractual obligations under the government’s school feeding and food supply programs.
Alhaji Zakari alleged that NAFCO consistently failed to honor its 90-day payment policy, leaving suppliers to bear the brunt of delayed funds.
> “We sacrifice a lot for the sustainability of the food supply policy, but sometimes the program is politicized, which affects us,” he lamented.
He further revealed that, contrary to claims by the Buffer Stock Company that it had no food in storage to supply to schools, it was the independent suppliers who stepped in to sustain the program during shortages.
The suppliers say they have been forced to purchase food on credit from farmers, plunging many of them into debt and threatening their livelihoods.
> “We’ve been waiting for payment for over six years, with some debts dating back to 2017,” Alhaji Zakari said.
He also raised concerns about transparency in the company’s payment processes, noting that funds reportedly released by NAFCO often fail to reach suppliers.
> “We get information that monies have been paid by the Buffer Stock CEO, but it does not reflect in our accounts, nor do we receive any official notifications,” he stated.
Reacting to current NAFCO CEO George Obradu-Otoo’s response to the Attorney General’s report concerning his predecessor, Alhaji Zakari described the situation as “deeply unfortunate” and damaging to the association’s reputation.
> “It’s unfortunate that the association has suffered reputational damage as a result of this mismanagement,” he bemoaned.
The Association is therefore appealing to the government to settle all outstanding payments owed to suppliers and to ensure reforms at the Buffer Stock Company as part of former President John Mahama’s proposed ‘Reset Agenda.’
> “We believe the reset agenda should also address systemic inefficiencies at NAFCO to prevent such issues from recurring,” Alhaji Zakari concluded.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku