Editorial
Pay the school feeding caterers
●Concerns of the caterers should be addressed quickly
Dear Editor,
I am writing to add my voice to the concerns of the School Feeding Caterers who have declared a strike over the delay in payment for services they had rendered.
The caterers, mostly women, have also asked for an increase in the school feeding grant from 0.97 pesewas to 3.5 pesewas but their calls seem to be falling on deaf ears.
I have been listening to some of the caterers early this week and I must say their situation and that of the affected pupils in public basic schools is pathetic.
Clearly, the government is facing financial challenges hence the inability to fulfil its financial obligations to the school feeding service providers. But I believe the situation could be handled carefully so that the caterers do not feel they are being taken for granted.
Considering that the school programme is one of government’s flagship programmes which, among other things, is aimed at increasing enrollment and retaining pupils on schools, the government should be able to prioritise the needs of working within the sector.
Some of the caterers say they owe their suppliers due to the delay in the release of funds, hence their inability to continue serving the pupils. This is a sad commentary on a programme the government takes so much pride in.
I urge the government to take urgent steps to address the challenges as quickly as possible. But if the government, in any case, wants to scrap the programme, then it must be said in plain language and stop playing hide and seek with the caterers.
Paul Kwame Koranteng,
Suhum, Eastern Region
Editorial
Make Heritage Day celebration compulsory for workers
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to suggest that the celebration of Heritage Month is declared compulsory, especially for workers in state agencies.
It is very interesting watching broadcasters adorned in diverse traditional regalia on our screens, telling the stories of the various tribes in the country.
But away from the television sets, there is practically nothing to see in town suggesting the celebration of such an important activity.
Once in the month, we also see our school children celebrating the event by dressing to depict where they come from.
But just as was done with the Chocolate Day celebration, I wish to suggest that workers in state agencies are forced to partake in the event. Within that month, every working staff should be made to dress in African prints or ones that would show where they come from.
That, to a large extent would give people a lot of education about their ancestry and their cultural values.
I have a few friends that are Gas from the Greater Accra region but because their parents stayed in other regions and gave birth to them outside Accra, they have little or no idea about where they actually come from.
Some of these activities would go a long way to educate such people to know their real homes.
I expect the Ministry of Tourism to play an active role in the success of this exercise.
Stella Twum,
Central Region
Editorial
Make Heritage Day celebration compulsory for workers
Dear Editor,
I want to use this platform to suggest that the celebration of Heritage Month is declared compulsory, especially for workers in state agencies.
It is very interesting watching broadcasters adorned in diverse traditional regalia on our screens, telling the stories of the various tribes in the country.
But away from the television sets, there is practically nothing to see in town suggesting the celebration of such an important activity.
Once in the month, we also see our school children celebrating the event by dressing to depict where they come from.
But just as was done with the Chocolate Day celebration, I wish to suggest that workers in state agencies are forced to partake in the event. Within that month, every working staff should be made to dress in African prints or ones that would show where they come from.
That, to a large extent would give people a lot of education about their ancestry and their cultural values.
I have a few friends that are Gas from the Greater Accra region but because their parents stayed in other regions and gave birth to them outside Accra, they have little or no idea about where they actually come from.
Some of these activities would go a long way to educate such people to know their real homes.
I expect the Ministry of Tourism to play an active role in the success of this exercise.
Stella Twum,
Central Region
