The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South in the Upper East region, Dr. Clement Apaak has questioned the allocation of some GH₵2.5 million for tree planting while school feed caterers embark on a nationwide strike over unpaid arrears.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources launched the 2023 Green Ghana Project with the aim of planting some ten million trees across the country.
At the press conference, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio disclosed that, government has approved a whopping GH₵2.5 million for the 2023 Green Ghana tree planting project.
Commenting on the development, lawmaker stated that despite tree planting is good the Ghanaian children are equally important.
“Government owes school feeding caterers, as a result they are on strike.
“The current rate per child per day is GH₵ 0. 97p, this can’t even feed a pet cat.
Yet government can find GH₵ 2.5M to plant trees in times like this? Trees are important, yes, but our children are more important Mr. President,” The Builsa MP lamented.
School feeding caterers across the country have been calling on the government to settle some arrears owed them but their cries have fallen on death ears resulting in the caterers laying down their tools.
At a conference, a leader of the caterers, Gifty Asamoah said “We have exhausted all our funds and are yet to get any feedback from the government”.
She also claimed that despite providing essential services in schools, school-feeding caterers are not given the same level of respect given to other professions.
“School feeding caterers are public servants like teachers, Police, Doctors, nurses and other employees that provide state services but we are being discriminated against.
Can government refuse to pay teachers for even one month, why are they doing the opposite when it comes to caterers? A contract is a contract and our human rights must not be abused.”
