Govt to begin distribution of food items to schools after evacuation of food stock from warehouses  

A government delegation led by  Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak and Akatsi North MP, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe are embarking on a tour of food warehouses in Tema to facilitate the evacuation and distribution of food items to various schools.

This follows President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to the Chief of Staff and the Ghana Education Service for food items held in warehouses to be evacuated for onward distribution.

Government is set to begin distribution of stored food items to schools hit with shortage of food items after the evacuation.

Speaking to TV3 during the tour of the warehouses, Dr. Apaak Dr Apaak, who previously served as the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee assured Ghanaians that the distribution of food items to schools will kickstart immediately the evacuation is completed.

“We want to sue this opportunity to reassure Ghanaians and parents that working with the Ministry of Education, CHASS and GES the President’s directive has been given effect.

“We will provide more details in terms of the quantities and the itinerary in terms of the various phases. We are very hopeful that once we start within the week, every school should have received its consignment of rice,” he stated.

According to the delegation, all public secondary schools are beneficiaries with over 900 schools set to receive the items. Distribution to Greater Accra schools begins today while distribution to other schools will start on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Dr. Apaak further disclosed that the National Buffer Stock company will cease to distribute food items to schools henceforth, noting that the Ministry of Finance will soon announce the release of funds to heads of schools to directly procure food items from suppliers.

He noted that after a meeting with the Ministry of Finance, Education Ministry, Ghana Education Service and CHASS, funds have been secured to be released to schools for further procurement of food items.

“After meetings between the Chief of Staff and CHASS as well as the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service based on the appeal made and the complains about potential food shortage in some of our schools, government through the Chief of Staff acting on orders of the President is working with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education to get funds released for onward disbursement to the schools to procure the food items needed.

“This will also be in fulfilment of John Dramani Mahama’s promise to decentralize the feeding arrangement contrary to what was the status quo.

“With the current arrangement, the National Buffer Stock Food Company or its affiliate will not be in charge of procuring and supplying food.

“What is going to happen henceforth is that the resources needed to procure the food will go to the heads of the institutions and they will identify their own suppliers and procure the food items directly.

“We believe that this will not only ensure that our wards consume wholesome, nutritious food but it will also remove the middleman role that is being played by Buffer Stock, food suppliers and to allow for the heads of institutions to take direct charge of procuring and supplying foods to our wards as expected,” he disclosed.

Officials from GES, MoFA and the Presidency were also present during the evacuation of the food items.

The post Govt to begin distribution of food items to schools after evacuation of food stock from warehouses   first appeared on 3News.

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