A caterer participating in the School Feeding Programme has alleged that the government levies a tax of 30 pesewas on the 0.97 pesewas cost per head paid under the programme.
The caterer, identified as Madam Ofosu Mensah, made this revelation during an interview on Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, as reported by GhanaWeb.
According to Madam Ofosu Mensah, the fee of 0.97 pesewas per head covers all expenses involved, including food preparation and serving the school children.
However, she expressed concern about the additional 30 pesewas tax imposed by the government on each payment.
“The 97 pesewas we are given per student, is supposed to cater for you the ingredients, source of fire, water and even light bill, in fact, everything concerning the food is in the 97 pesewas,” she said.
She added that the government charges them 30 pesewas for each fee.
“The government even takes a tax cut from the money, 30 pesewas. If you noticed, yesterday when a woman [reference to the Gender Minister] was speaking, she brought GH¢ 1 and she deducted tax 30 pesewas, so we have been paying tax,” she alleges.
School Feeding Caterers Association has been on strike over unpaid allowances and subsequent increment of the cost per head from 97 pesewas to GH¢ 2.00.
But the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu noted at a press conference, on June 4, 2023, that there is a proposal before the government to have the fee per head for each student from 97 pesewas to GH¢ 1.20p.
The proposed amount has also been kicked against by the caterers.