The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has called on the government to clear outstanding payments under the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

Speaking to the media during a demonstration in Accra, suppliers said prolonged delays are causing severe financial hardship and undermining their ability to continue supplying uniforms, house dresses and other school clothing to SHSs nationwide.

A supplier from the Volta Region, Madam Vida Sowah, said some debts date back to the previous administration while others relate to the current government.

She said outstanding payments from 2022 to date are affecting suppliers’ families, workers and loan repayments.

"In 2021, they paid some and some remained, from 2022 up to date they haven't paid anything at all, so I'm pleading to the new government that if he hears what we are saying, please we are begging him he should pay us because we are dying.

"Our children are dying, our workers are leaving us, and if they stop the work what are they going to do? He should pay us for us to pay our workers, we want to work with him and we are also helping the government in a way so he should pay us, we are pleading and begging."

A supplier from Takoradi, Madam Anastasia Joyce Eshun, also said the government has not paid them since the 2022/2023 academic year. She added that, because of the unpaid debts, her child could not enrol at university despite gaining admission.

She called on the Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, to settle the debts, stressing that suppliers have delivered goods and deserve prompt payment so they can pay their workers and support their families.

"Ato Forson we are taking our money from you because you are the finance minister and Haruna Iddrisu because you are the education minister, it's our own money that we used to work for the government, we are not happy to do a demonstration but we are fed up now so you have to pay us, everyone here is owing their suppliers and workers."

NAIS warned that continued delays could force some suppliers to cease operations, worsening disruptions to school supplies across the country. They further urged the government to prioritise the payments and engage promptly with suppliers to resolve the matter.