A fresh dispute is brewing within Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme as suppliers of school uniforms and related materials prepare to stage a protest over unpaid government debts.
The National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS) has announced that its members will picket at the Ministry of Education on June 11, 2026, to demand the settlement of approximately GH¢50 million owed for supplies delivered to public senior high schools. The association says the debt has remained unpaid despite years of engagement with the relevant authorities.
In a statement issued on June 3, 2026, NAIS said the planned demonstration had become necessary because of the prolonged delay in payments for school uniforms, house dresses, and school cloths supplied under the Free SHS programme.
According to the association, many suppliers have not received payment for goods delivered since 2023, creating severe financial pressure on businesses that participated in the programme.
The group argues that the situation has moved beyond a simple contractual dispute and is now threatening the survival of several businesses that depend on government contracts.
Many suppliers reportedly financed the production and delivery of the items through loans and other financial arrangements. However, the continued delay in reimbursement has left them struggling to meet financial obligations, including loan repayments, operational costs, and staff salaries.
NAIS says it has repeatedly engaged government institutions in an attempt to resolve the issue. Despite those efforts, the association claims there has been little progress toward clearing the outstanding arrears.
As a result, members believe a public demonstration is now the most effective way to draw attention to their concerns.
In its statement, the association stressed that the objective of the picketing exercise is not only to highlight the difficulties faced by suppliers but also to push for the immediate release of the funds owed to its members.
“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 association stated.
The suppliers further expressed hope that the demonstration will encourage authorities to treat the matter with urgency and take concrete steps toward settling the debt.
This is not the first time NAIS has threatened protest action over delayed payments. In previous years, the association raised similar concerns over unpaid arrears and delayed contracts, arguing that the situation was affecting the sustainability of businesses that support the education sector.
The latest development adds to ongoing discussions about funding challenges within the Free SHS programme, one of Ghana’s flagship social intervention policies. While the programme has expanded access to secondary education for thousands of students, suppliers say timely payment remains critical to ensuring the smooth delivery of goods and services to schools.
NAIS has also appealed to media organisations and other stakeholders to pay attention to the issue and help amplify the concerns of affected suppliers. The association believes broader public awareness could help accelerate efforts to resolve the matter.
With the June 11 protest date approaching, attention is now turning to whether the Ministry of Education will engage the suppliers and reach an agreement before the planned demonstration takes place.
For many of the affected businesses, the outcome could determine whether they can continue participating in future government programmes or remain financially viable in the months ahead.
