
The National Association of Institutional Suppliers has refuted the Ministry of Education’s assertion that outstanding arrears owed to the association have been cleared.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Education on April 15, it declared that the government had disbursed GHC26 million to the Institutional Suppliers, responsible for providing school uniforms, P.E. kits, and stationery, among other items.
Emmanuel Ayivor, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Institutional Suppliers, confirmed in an interview with Citi News on the same date that the Ministry of Education had initiated payments to settle arrears owed to the association.
However, in a statement released by the Institutional Suppliers on Tuesday, May 7, the group declared that the ministry’s pledge to settle the outstanding arrears remains unfulfilled. Additionally, they contested the ministry’s claim of disbursing a total of GHC26 million as false.
“The Ministry’s promise to settle all outstanding payments to suppliers, particularly for the years 2021-2022, by April 10, 2024, remains unfulfilled. Many of our members have not received any payment”.
“The Ministry’s assertion that a total of GHC26 million has been disbursed to pay arrears owed to suppliers of uniforms, PE kits, and stationery is misleading”, the letter stated.
The Association has also clarified that none of its members has been granted a contract to supply P.E. kits and uniforms to schoolchildren. Therefore, they have no knowledge of the identity of the association or individuals responsible for the contract.
The Association has also clarified that none of its members has been granted a contract to supply P.E. kits and uniforms to schoolchildren. Therefore, they have no knowledge of the identity of the association or individuals responsible for the contract.
“Shockingly, not a single member of our association has been awarded a contract for the supply of PE kits and stationery for the past seven years. It, therefore, appears that a substantial portion of the GHC26 million has gone to their own cronies,” the statement added.
The National Association of Institutional Suppliers further asserted that the settlement of arrears has been conducted in a selective manner, making it difficult to discern the payments allocated to members of the association.
“Another worrying situation is that according to the ministry’s records, some suppliers have been marked as paid when they have not actually received payment. Upon inquiry, it has been discovered that their invoices are missing.
“This exacerbates the issue, leading to inaccurate claims of payment by the Ministry. In light of these revelations, we call upon the ministry to urgently fulfil its commitment to pay all outstanding arrears without further delay.
“Additionally, we urge the ministry to implement a transparent and systematic payment process to enhance tracking of payments made to members” the statement which was signed by the National Secretary, Amoah Talhir and the Vice President of the Association, Dr. George Adjei-Henne read.