Madam Phyllis Laryea, one of the aggrieved suppliers of Buffer Stock, has spoken out about the delayed payments they are facing.
Laryea stated that they had made supplies to schools under the Buffer Stock program with the promise of payment within 60 days. However, over a year has passed, and they are yet to receive the money owe them.
Madam Laryea expressed concerns about the financial implications of the delayed payments, stating that they owe money to farmers, debtors, and others. She emphasized that all they are asking for is the return of their money, which the government has failed to provide. Despite promises from the Buffer Stock CEO Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab, payments have not been made for supplies made from March 2023 till date.
The initial agreement with the government was for suppliers to submit waybills and receive payment after 60 days. However, this timeline has been exceeded, causing frustration among the suppliers. Laryea mentioned a meeting held in November 2023, where the CEO claimed that Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) had been paid but Buffer Stock suppliers had not received their dues.
The Buffer Stock CEO presented documents indicating that the Education Ministry had not allocated the necessary funds for payments to be made. He proposed a meeting involving the Education Minister, GCX, suppliers, and himself to address the issue.
Despite efforts to schedule the meeting in December 2023, it was postponed due to the suppliers’ insistence on payment.
Madam Laryea, who supplied maize, beans, Garri, and other food items, revealed that she was owed over Ghc3 billion. The suppliers are calling on the government to fulfill its payment obligations and provide the funds owed to them.
Asking whether she is still in the food supply business, she responded “No”, explaining that she can’t stand the pressure from farmers and others she collected things from on credit.
Meanwhile, the Concerned Women in the Suppliers Association have brought attention to the ongoing payment challenges they are facing, especially with outstanding dues from January. The association, made up of dedicated suppliers who have faithfully delivered services throughout 2023, had expected to receive payments on a promised 3-month cycle.
However, Buffer Stock is now only remitting 30% of the February payment, citing pending funds from the ministry as the reason for the delay.
Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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