In the midst of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), some ordinary Ghanaians, including micro businesswoman and manageress of Rostella Enterprise, have been owed money for supplying food items under the Free Senior High School Policy in the Fourth Quarter of 2024. For the past 19 months, the debt owed to her and others like her has remained unpaid, with the excuse that they are waiting for releases from the Ministry of Finance.
Partisan Politics vs Competence in Government Contracts
The irony is that when public, political, and government officials get the opportunity to speak publicly, they openly proffer sentimental nationalistic slogans and regurgitate the false narration that the country belongs to all of us and no one would be excluded from the sharing of the national cake or resources. However, the reality is that some ordinary Ghanaians, like Rostella Enterprise, have been denied contracts for supplies under the Free SHS programme because of their association with the previous administration.
The Case of Rostella Enterprise
The manageress of Rostella Enterprise, whose identity remains anonymous, was initially reluctant to supply food items to senior high schools in the Ashanti Region. However, after much persuasion, she mobilised resources and supplied the food items, only to be met with hostility and elusive officials when she sought to register for new supplies after the change in government. Despite being forensically audited and established to be legitimate, her company has not been given a contract for supplies since 2025.
A Question of Competence vs Partisanship
The question is, if government is raising money and depositing it towards the future payments under the DDEP, why has the same government failed to pay for supplies, forensically audited and established to be legitimate. The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has pointed out that the uncapped portion of the GETFund, is being applied to pay for food supplies under the Free SHS programme. This raises concerns about the competence of government officials in managing contracts and the impact of partisan politics on the distribution of resources.
A Call to President Mahama
As the government continues to struggle with the DDEP, it is imperative that President Mahama intervenes to address the issue of unpaid debts to suppliers like Rostella Enterprise. The fact that new suppliers appointed since 2025; ostensibly loyal partisan members of the government are paid from the Ghana Education Trust Fund, while legitimate suppliers like Rostella Enterprise are left unpaid, is a clear indication of the partisan politics that pervades the government's decision-making process. It is time for President Mahama to take a stand and ensure that competence, quality of work, and value for money are the guiding principles in the distribution of government contracts.
Source: Joy Online
