Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has announced that the National Buffer Stock Company will initiate payments to its suppliers on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. 

Starting from this date, the company will begin making 50 per cent payment of its 200 million Ghana cedi debt owed to food suppliers.

The Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi Constituency in the Eastern Region, made this announcement in Parliament today, Tuesday, July 18, reassuring that all payments will be completed by August 17.

Contributing to the statement, Second Deputy Majority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, expressed surprise at the Food Suppliers’ agitations against the government over the delayed payments. 

He opined that suppliers who are able to supply food worth GHS2 billion cannot be said to be poor people and that their agitation could be politically motivated.

Addressing the ongoing issue with the National Food Suppliers Association, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) released a statement on Thursday, July 6, 2023, expressing its commitment to collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education and Finance, to settle the outstanding dues. 

NAFCO acknowledged its indebtedness to the Food Suppliers Association and empathised with their plight, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the picketing at its head office premises. 

The company promised to convene an emergency board meeting to address the situation and develop a potential roadmap for resolution.

However, amidst the ongoing picketing and demands for immediate payment, two members of the National Food Suppliers Association fell ill on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, due to the rough weather conditions and emotional stress they faced during the protest.

Despite the silence of the Buffer Stock Company on their demands, the Food Suppliers Association remains steadfast in their pursuit of two-year arrears to keep their businesses afloat. 

The spokesperson for the Association, Kwaku Amedume, criticised the company's lack of urgency in resolving the matter and expressed their determination to continue seeking their rightful dues.

The situation is being closely monitored, and the company's actions and decisions will have a significant impact on the resolution of the issue with the National Food Suppliers Association.