Barring any unforeseen circumstance, senior high school students across the country, under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy are expected to buy their uniforms, house dresses and other essential goods.
This is because, the government is owing the National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) two academic years debts. The academic years are 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 and the debt is running into millions of Ghana cedis.
The NAIS in a statement jointly signed by its President, Emmanuel Ayivor and Secretary, James Kudozia said “despite constantly fulfilling their contractual obligations under the free SHS policy, its members have not received payments for their services”.
“The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) is calling on the government to, as a matter of urgency, pay for the arrears of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years”.
The Association, which supplies school uniforms, house dresses and other essential goods to senior high schools, says the delay in payment by the government is affecting their members, which would also affect the free SHS policy.
The statement said “this delay has left suppliers in a dire financial situation, further compounded by significant increases in the cost of raw materials”.
The Association added that “the financial strain has made it nearly impossible for suppliers to sustain their operations, meet their own financial commitments, and continue supporting government’s critical educational initiatives”.
The statement said, even though they are ready to supply the government with the above goods “urgent action is required to avert further financial distress among its members and to safeguard the continuity and success of the free SHS policy”.
“The Association calls on the government to urgently honour all outstanding payments owed to members, ensure that suppliers can sustain their operations and continue contributing to Ghana’s educational sector,” parts of the press statement read.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana
