Don’t touch our caterers – Management of Ghana School Feeding Programme cautions Assemblies

The Management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has cautioned all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies against the termination of contracts of its caterers, threatening that they do so at their own risk, ABC News can report.

According to the GSFP, neither it nor the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) have sanctioned any termination of caterers’ contracts or reallocation of beneficiary schools to any caterer or group of caterers.

A statement released by the GSFP indicated that it has received reports suggesting that some MMDAs have unilaterally terminated caterers’ contracts and in some cases reallocated beneficiary schools to some caterers in their respective assemblies.

Describing the move as inappropriate, it cautioned all MMDAs against such practices as it contravened its established procedures.

“We wish to state emphatically that management of GSFP and MOGCSP have not sanctioned or approved any termination of caterers’ contract or reallocation of beneficiary schools to any caterer or group of caterers.

“We also reiterate that we have not authorised or engaged in any arrangement with any assembly to change schools for our caterers for the 2019/2020 academic year,” it said.

The GSFP directed all of its caterers nationwide to disregard any information purporting to terminate their contract or reallocate new schools to them, urging them to continue to cook for the schools allotted them.

“As schools reopen for the commencement of 2019/2020 academic year, all GSFP caterers must continue to cook for the schools originally allocated them to serve per their contract unless otherwise we issue a contrary directive to that effect,” it said.

It cautioned that “MMDAS who do not adhere to these directives and proceed to terminate caterers’ contracts and assign schools to new caterers to serve do so at their own risk,” adding that “GSFP would not pay for any unauthorized services rendered under any circumstances.”

The GSFP called on all MMDAs to at all material times consult with it and the MOGCSP in order to secure the appropriate approval before embarking on such arrangements.

Read full statement below: