The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) says the government spent over GH¢2.7 billion on payment of food suppliers for the Free Senior High School policy between 2017 and 2022.

According to Hanan Abdul-Wahab, the amount covers the provision of 18 different food items to more than 700 Senior High Schools as well as technical, vocational and community development schools.

Mr Abdul-Wahab revealed this on Monday, August 21 while speaking at the Meet the Press series held by the Ministry of Information in Accra.

He outlined that in 2017, food suppliers received GH¢81.1 million, followed by GH¢296.2 million in 2018, and GH¢441.5 million in 2019.

The NAFCO CEO said the company paid GH¢467.9 million and GH¢692.2 million to the food suppliers in 2020 and 2021 respectively. He noted that the highest payment occurred in 2022, amounting to GH¢726.6 million.

Mr. Abdul-Wahab acknowledged that although there were outstanding payments owed to food suppliers for 2022, the government had already disbursed GH¢100 million on July 17, 2023.

He said that an additional GH¢80 million has been released but is yet to reach the suppliers' accounts.

Mr. Abdul-Wahab maintained that NAFCO is committed to ensuring food security, establishing guaranteed prices for farmers, stabilising local food prices and fostering the consumption of locally produced grains.