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Tag: Buffer Stock

  • 4 arrested for ransacking Buffer Stock warehouse in Northern region – Report

    4 arrested for ransacking Buffer Stock warehouse in Northern region – Report

    Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the recent ransacking of the Buffer Stock Company warehouse in the Northern Region.

    The suspects, who are assisting police with investigations, were apprehended following the theft of over 150 bags of maize and other food items meant for Senior High Schools (SHSs).

    The theft occurred on January 3, shortly after schools reopened for the 2024/25 academic year. Reports indicate that only three schools received their food consignments before the incident, leaving 15 SHSs at risk of severe food shortages.

    Warehouse Supervisor Alhassan Salifu revealed that the criminals first targeted food meant for the Tamale Metro Assembly before looting the school supplies. Bukari Dahmani, Northern Regional Coordinator for the Free Senior High School program, expressed concern that the theft could delay school operations unless the government intervenes promptly.

    Headmaster of Ghana Senior High School, Douglas Haruna Yakubu, voiced fears that the theft would exacerbate existing supply issues. Since December 2024, a series of similar raids have affected other warehouses in the region, including those of the Tamale Metro Assembly, the Department of Agriculture, and the Veterinary Service, with food, agricultural chemicals, and fertilizers stolen.

  • Food suppliers protest unpaid arrears at Buffer Stock

    Food suppliers protest unpaid arrears at Buffer Stock

    The National Food Suppliers Association protested at the premises of the National Food Buffer Stock Company on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

    The association argues that the government has failed to settle over 2 years’ worth of arrears owed to its members.

    Earlier, the association issued a 14-day ultimatum to the buffer stock company, demanding full payment of the outstanding arrears or face a series of picketing.

    However, the planned action was postponed on June 13, 2023.

    During an interview with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Monday, Kweku Amedume, the spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association, revealed that creditors are now threatening to take over their homes due to the unpaid arrears.

    “What we are asking for is our money and our contract is with Buffer Stock. The Education Ministry has told us it has released the money to Buffer Stock. We want to know where the money has gone to, we want to have our money so we can settle our creditors.

    “We will be picketing at the Buffer Stock and we will be there till our monies are paid. We will be there till our money is settled in full. Because we have nowhere going apart from that place,” Mr. Amedume stated.

    He continued: “Our houses are being taken over by creditors. So we want to go and be there for them to know the kind of pressure that is being mounted on us as suppliers.” 

  • Free SHS: We are fed up with unfulfilled promises, give us our money – National Food Suppliers to govt

    Free SHS: We are fed up with unfulfilled promises, give us our money – National Food Suppliers to govt

    The National Food Suppliers Association has served notice that its members will continue to protest until their demands are met by government.

    This comes after they met with the Minister of Education over the demands, of which NAFCO has indicated that plans are underway to get the Finance Ministry to release funds to pay them.

    Speaking to the media, the spokesperson for the National Food Suppliers Association, Kwaku Amedume said they will not be moved by empty promises.

    Mr. Amedume indicated that the respective agencies responsible for paying their arrears have been giving members of the Association consistent empty promises so much so that they can no longer put up with such promises.

    “That has always been the story we have been hearing for the past two years; we are organising some money, we are going to release some funding, we should bring our names, we should meet at 10 o’clock. We have gone through all these processes and promises, and we are still where we are for the past two years. So I don’t think it is enough to just conclude that we are satisfied. Until we have our money in our hands, we don’t trust that this money will be paid to us”.

    “Mind you, day-in-day-out, the value of the money with Buffer Stock keeps reducing, and so we are more than interested in getting our money than any promise, we want action, not promises.”

    The Association on AU Day, May 25, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to pay the eighteen months’ arrears owed members else they will picket at the Buffer Stock’s premises until they are paid.