Institutional suppliers refute claims of payment by Education Ministry

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers has debunked the Ministry of Education’s claim that arrears owed the association have been settled.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Education, on April 15, it announced that the Government has disbursed Ghc26 million to the Institutional Suppliers, responsible for the supply of school uniforms, P.E kits, and stationery, among others.

In an interview with Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Institutional Suppliers, Emmanuel Ayivor confirmed, on the said date, that the Education Ministry has begun disbursing payments in efforts to settle arrears to the association.

However, in a statement released by the Institutional Suppliers on Tuesday, May 7, the group asserted that the promise made by the ministry to settle the arrears remains unfulfilled.

“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 no member of their association has been awarded a contract to make supplies of P.E kits and uniforms to school children, and thereby has no knowledge of the identity of the association or persons responsible for the contract.

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers also averred that the settling of arrears has taken a selective approach, thus posing a challenge in identifying the payments made to members of the association.