Controlled Food Suppliers Association to protest over GH₵250m debt

The Controlled Food Suppliers Association (CFSA) has announced plans for a five-day peaceful demonstration to demand the payment of approximately GH₵250 million in outstanding debts. The protest is scheduled to take place from November 16 to 20, 2026, at the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) in Accra. These arrears are specifically for food items supplied during the 2024/2025 academic year under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme. The association stated that the demonstration is a direct response to the government's failure to honor its financial obligations. This move follows the expiration of a two-week ultimatum issued by the CFSA on October 7, 2026, which lapsed without a resolution or a meaningful response from the relevant authorities. Despite the association's efforts to resolve the matter through dialogue and good-faith negotiations, the lack of payment has forced its members to take public action. The association expressed deep frustration, noting that repeated requests for payment have been largely ignored. The ongoing delay in payments has created severe financial and personal difficulties for local suppliers. The CFSA highlighted that many of its members are facing significant emotional distress and the imminent threat of asset seizures as they struggle to manage the business debts incurred to fulfill their supply contracts. The state's failure to honor contractual payment deadlines has placed an unsustainable burden on the private businesses responsible for feeding students across the country. As the protest date approaches, there are growing concerns regarding the stability of the Free SHS food supply chain. Civil society groups are monitoring the situation closely, as any further disruption could affect the availability of meals in public senior high schools. The CFSA maintains that the demonstration is a last resort intended to urge the government to settle the GH₵250 million debt and prevent the collapse of the supply system.