Food Suppliers Lace Their Boots For Another Protest

The spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association(NAFSA), Koku Amedume, has said that they will not accept staggered payment of arrears owed to them.

According to the suppliers, the National Food Buffer Stock Company(NAFCO) owes them over two years of arrears, and all attempts to recoup monies owed have proved futile.

They are demanding full payment, or else they will embark on protests to press home their demands.

Addressing the media on Monday, July 17, 2023, Mr Amedume said their arrears were long overdue, and the government had not started payment as promised.

“We are expecting full settlement of our money because our money has been long overdue, interest has accumulated, banks are on us to take our properties, and members are languishing in abject poverty,” he stated.

“We can no longer accept a meagre payment in the settlement. We are here to take the full payment and are interested in the full payment, without which we will resume our picketing rights. Members are languishing in abject poverty after Thursday.”

The group spent several nights on the premises of the National Food Buffer Stock Company(NAFCO) to demand payment which prompted a response from the government.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, assured them that they will start receiving payment for food supplied beginning Monday, July 17, 2023.

However, the spokesperson for the food suppliers maintains that the promise has not been honoured.

He said failure to receive the money by Wednesday, July 19, 2023, will mean they will resume their picketing on Thursday, July 2023.

He added that the situation is placing pressure on the food suppliers as banks pursue them for repayment of loans they accessed to enable them to meet the supply needs of the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited.