Fertilizers Suppliers under Government Flagship Programme Planting for Food and Jobs are daring the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to be clear with his presentation over
payment of money to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for some outstanding debts.
They made some reservations over his presentations when the Minister claimed to have released an amount of 278.57 million to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as part of
GHC 485.90 million the ministry asked to sustain the programme this year.
The Minister on the floor of parliament on Wednesday when asked about the issue of
Financial Clearance to MOFA to clear the large debt owed partners and suppliers
revealed that his ministry has released money to clear outstanding debts.
“Mr. Speaker at the end of 2021 an amount of GHC 86.31 million was outstanding,
under PFJ Programme. This amount has now been released to MOFA for payment. This
year, MOFA has requested for an amount of GHC 485.90 million for payment under PFJ
programme. An amount of GHC 278.57 million has subsequently been released to
MOFA” Mr Ofori –Atta claimed.
REFUTATION:
However, the owed partners and suppliers have said that since 2021 they have not
received payment and some arears in 2020 from the implementing ministry.
Suppliers said, their respective Banks have been chasing them after the Minister’s
presentation on the floor of Parliament because these banks think; they (Suppliers) have
diverted the payment to different accounts.
“We are a bit confused over the Finance Minister’s presentation so we are demanding a
clear explanation. Where has the money he claimed he has released gone to?” One
supplier rhetorically asked this reporter.
“How would we still drag government for our monies when the Finance Ministry claims
to have released an amount to clear the outstanding debts… there is inconsistencies in
his presentation so we are urging him to make things more clearer for us because the
Banks are chasing us for their monies too” One supplier has added.
INDEBTEDNESS:
According to some of the contractors, they said per their checks at the Controller and
Accounts Department, no money has been released for their debts.
The fertilizer suppliers in an earlier interview last month confirmed that government still owes them monies after supplying farmers under PFJ with fertilizers.
Peasant farmers had also in a separate story expressed worry over how the scarcity of
fertilizers has been affecting their farming businesses since suppliers are reluctant to
supply them with fertilizers.
BACKGROUND:
Planting for Food and Jobs is a flagship agricultural Campaign of the Government, with
five (5) implementation modules.
The first module PFJ (Crops) aims to promote food
security and immediate availability of selected food crops on the market and also
provide jobs.
