Accra, Ghana//-The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has announced a planned picketing at the Ministry of Education in Accra on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
The demonstration is in response to what the group describes as the government’s prolonged failure to settle more than GH¢50 million in outstanding payments owed to its members.
According to a formal notice released by the association, the unpaid funds cover supplies of school uniforms, house dresses, and other clothes delivered to public Senior High Schools across the country under the government’s Free SHS program. NAIS says the debt has been pending since 2023, despite repeated engagements, formal letters, and direct appeals to the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies.
Financial strain on local businesses
The association noted that the three-year delay has created severe financial strain for many of its members. Most of the suppliers are small and medium-scale Ghanaian businesses that rely on timely payments to cover production costs, wages, and loans. With arrears still outstanding, several suppliers say they are struggling to stay afloat and maintain operations.
“Many of our members have had to take loans to produce and deliver these items, expecting prompt payment. Three years later, they are still waiting while interest and operational costs keep piling up,” NAIS stated.
Purpose of the picket
NAIS explained that the June 11 picketing is not meant to disrupt education, but to draw public and government attention to the plight of suppliers who have kept the Free SHS program running at the ground level.
The association said the protest will be peaceful and orderly, with members converging at the Ministry of Education to demand the immediate release of the GH¢50 million owed.
“The picketing aims not only to draw the government’s attention to our plight but also to urge the immediate release of funds owed to NAIS members,” the statement read.
The group expressed hope that media coverage and public support will put pressure on authorities to act quickly. NAIS believes that highlighting the issue will help stakeholders understand how delayed payments are affecting local businesses and, by extension, the sustainability of supplies to schools.
Broader concerns for Free SHS
This is not the first time suppliers under the Free SHS program have raised concerns over payment delays. Over the past few years, issues with capitation grants and procurement arrears have repeatedly surfaced, raising questions about funding flow and procurement processes.
With the picket just days away, all eyes will be on the Ministry of Education’s response and whether a payment plan will be announced before June 11.
