The Food Suppliers Association of Ghana has extended its heartfelt gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for his commendable initiative to enable them to resupply food to senior high schools across the country.
This move, according to the suppliers, is a significant step towards alleviating the challenges faced by headmasters and food suppliers in the education sector.
According to Alhaji Iddrisu Zakari, spokesperson for the association in the middle belt of Ghana and head of the post-harvest unit of the Association of Ghana Industries, the initiative will help address the difficulties encountered by food suppliers and ensure a stable food supply chain.
Alhaji Zakari said members of the Food Suppliers Association faced significant challenges after the government brought in the National Buffer Stock between them and the headmasters of senior high schools, resulting in job losses and disruptions to the food supply chain.
Quality food
“However, with President Mahama’s initiative, we are optimistic about receiving contracts for the food supply, which will not only revive our businesses but also ensure that students receive quality food,” Alhaji Zakari said in an exclusive interview with Apiah-Kubi on Fabea FM in Nkoranza.
Alhaji Zakari highlighted key challenges that the initiative aims to address, including delayed payments, which hinder food suppliers’ ability to maintain a continuous supply of food to schools.
He also lamented that partisan politics had previously influenced the procurement process, leading to unfair treatment of some suppliers.
Furthermore, the association had observed that some schools were procuring less quality food, which has adverse effects on students’ health and well-being.
“When the contract is awarded, we will ensure that only quality food is supplied to schools,” Alhaji Zakari emphasized.
Positive impact
“I believe that President Mahama’s initiative will have a positive impact in ensuring that only quality food is supplied to schools,” he added.
He stated that the initiative will also address the issue of delayed payments, enabling suppliers to provide better services.
The association is optimistic about receiving contracts for food supply will reflects the potential benefits of the initiative, including improved food quality and increased efficiency in the supply chain.
Story by Apiah-Kubi, Fabea FM, Nkoranza
