The Controlled Food Suppliers Association (CFSA) is set to begin a five-day demonstration at the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) in Accra over unpaid arrears for food supplied to senior high schools under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme in 2024. The protest is scheduled from Monday, November 16 to Friday, November 20, 2026.
The association says the action is intended to compel the GCX and relevant authorities to settle monies it says are legitimately owed to its members for food items delivered under the programme.
Two-week ultimatum expired
In a formal notice to GCX management, the CFSA said it had made repeated attempts to secure payment without success. It said it issued a two-week ultimatum on October 7, 2026, but the deadline lapsed on October 21 without the outstanding amounts being settled.
The notice, signed by the association’s Administrative Secretary, Cornelius Korku Logo, said the prolonged delay and the lack of an adequate response left the association with no option but to demonstrate.
“The leadership of the Association has at all times acted in utmost good faith in demanding monies legitimately owed to its members,” the notice said. “However, the prolonged delay in the payments in spite of the persistent follow-ups, and the apparent decision by GCX to disregard the Association’s two weeks’ notice given on 7th October 2026, which lapsed on 21st October 2026, has compelled the Association to take this rather difficult but reasonably necessary option.”
Background to the dispute
The CFSA says its members supplied food to senior high schools during the 2024/2025 academic year through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and the Ghana Commodity Exchange. The association has previously estimated the outstanding debt at about GH¢250 million.
According to the suppliers, many financed the supplies through bank loans and produce purchased on credit from farmers. They say the delayed payments have left them unable to repay those loans or settle their obligations to farmers.
The association says it engaged NAFCO and GCX in April 2026, wrote to the Ministry of Education in July, and later followed up with the Ministry of Finance, but says it has not received a clear payment plan.
Suppliers’ demands
The CFSA is seeking:
Immediate settlement of the outstanding payments owed to members.
A clear, time-bound payment schedule.
Transparent engagement with the Presidency, the Ministries of Education and Finance, NAFCO, GCX and other relevant institutions.
Clarity on the institutions responsible for implementing the payment plan.
The association maintains that the amounts have been reconciled and are not in dispute.
Why it matters
The planned picketing adds pressure on government institutions over delayed payments to contractors and suppliers under the Free SHS programme. The suppliers argue that the arrears are affecting their livelihoods, health and ability to remain in business, while also creating a ripple effect for farmers and financial institutions that financed the supplies.
The demonstration is expected to run daily at the GCX premises in Accra from November 16 to 20, unless the parties reach a resolution before then.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa
