Ashanti regional minister, Simon Osei Mensa, on Monday, April 3, 2023, failed to give a warm audience to the School Feeding Programme caterers who had picketed at the regional Coordinating Council.
According to reports, the caterers are requesting an increase in the daily charge for each child from 97 pesewas to GHS3.
They claim that because food is so expensive and children only receive an allowance of less than one cedi each day, they are unable to cook nutritious meals for the kids. They assert that a gallon of oil that they used to buy for, say, GHS105 now costs approximately GHS1,000.
Government settled two periods of a three-term debt it had with the caterers two weeks ago.
As a result, the ladies petitioned for their one term in arrears as well as the increase per head.
They demonstrated outside the Regional Coordinating Council’s office, which is located in the same building as the National School Feeding Program’s Ashanti regional secretariat.
It is said that after hearing the chants from the women at the premises, the regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah came out from his office.
“Why are you making noise? This is a security zone and people are working here, so if you have something to present you should come in a peaceful manner in order not to disturb anyone,” the minister is said to have stated in Twi.
The women in response said “we are here to present a petition on our arrears and increment in the fee per head for the children.”
Mr. Osei Mensah who got infuriated with the response said “if this is what you’re saying then go.” He snubbed them and walked to his office.