Wednesday, 03 June

Institutional Suppliers threaten protest over unpaid free SHS contracts

News
Ministry of Education

The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has announced plans to stage a protest at the Ministry of Education on June 11, 2026, over unpaid arrears owed to its members under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 3, the association said the planned demonstration is a response to the government's continued failure to settle nearly GH¢50 million owed to suppliers of school uniforms, house dresses, and school cloths delivered to public senior high schools.

NAIS stated that its members have been awaiting payment for supplies provided since 2023 despite repeated engagements with the relevant state agencies and numerous appeals for the release of funds.

According to the association, the prolonged delay has placed severe financial strain on suppliers, with many struggling to sustain their operations and meet business obligations.

The group said the protest is intended to draw attention to the challenges facing its members and to press government to immediately clear the outstanding debt.

NAIS further indicated that the demonstration is expected to underscore the urgency of the matter and encourage authorities to take swift action to resolve the payment impasse.

The association has also called on the media to provide coverage of the protest, arguing that public attention is crucial to ensuring the concerns of affected suppliers are heard by policymakers and other stakeholders.

The planned picketing exercise is scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Education on June 11.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Zita Okwang