The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has announced that caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) will continue to receive GHC1.50 per child for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.
This was confirmed by the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman, during a recent press briefing.
Addressing concerns about the inadequacy of the current amount, Minister Newman stated, “The GHS 1.50 per child was recently reviewed, and there are no plans to increase it at this time.”
Despite the calls for an increase, the Ministry maintains that the current allocation will remain in place, emphasizing the importance of fiscal responsibility and efficient management of the resources available.
In response to reports of irregularities in the provision and quality of meals, the Ministry has announced the introduction of modern technology to monitor and ensure that meals prepared by caterers meet health and nutritional standards.
Minister Newman acknowledged the challenges faced, noting, “We are aware that some caterers do not provide food regularly as expected, and in some cases, the quality of food does not meet the required standards. The new policy aims to address these issues as we move into the 2024-2025 academic year.”
As part of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the GSFP, all caterers under the program will be required to reapply through an online platform. This initiative is designed to streamline operations and allow for better monitoring and assessment of the caterers’ activities.
The Ministry believes this will contribute to improved service delivery and accountability within the program.
Minister Newman also addressed the issue of delayed payments to caterers, a longstanding challenge associated with the program. She assured stakeholders that efforts are being made to settle all outstanding arrears, ensuring that caterers are compensated for their services promptly.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme was established in 2005 with support from the Dutch government. The initiative aims to provide one nutritious meal to beneficiaries every school day, thereby increasing enrolment, improving attendance, and retaining pupils in public basic schools.
However, not all basic schools across the country benefit from this intervention, and the program has faced several challenges, including delays in payments to caterers and insufficient funding per child.
Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to the program’s objectives and continues to seek ways to enhance its effectiveness and reach.
Read also:
Affirmative Action Bill has not been submitted to Akufo-Addo yet – Gender Minister
The post All caterers under School Feeding Programme to reapply through online platform – Gender Minister first appeared on 3News.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS