By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, May 7, GNA – Hajia Safia Mohammed, immediate past National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), has threatened legal action against the government over the unjust termination of contracts of caterers under the programme.
In a statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, she expressed disappointment and outrage over the decision by the GSFP Secretariat to terminate the contracts of the caterers, describing it as unjust and politically motivated.
It warned that “If the government does not immediately reverse this unjust termination, I shall be left with no option but to seek redress in the courts of law on behalf of the caterers.”
It added that “I will not hesitate to pursue this matter legally to its logical conclusion including filing a petition with the World Bank, World Food Programme, UNICEF, the Canadian International Development Agency, USAID, the Dutch Embassy, and the International Monetary Fund to alert them of the political victimisation and targeted maltreatment being meted out to caterers, who have served with loyalty, diligence and competence.”
The statement said the termination of the contracts was vindictive, discriminatory, and a blatant disregard for the dignity and welfare of the caterers, many of whom depended on the programme for their livelihoods.
It said that many of the affected caterers had taken substantial loans and procured foodstuffs in preparation for the upcoming school term only to be abruptly informed of their dismissal.
It asked “How are they expected to repay these loans, and what becomes of the foodstuffs they have already purchased?
The statement also condemned what it called the unjust dismissal of GSFP District Officers saying they were arbitrarily removed from office without due process.
GNA
EA/CA