The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced an upward adjustment in the feeding grant for the Ghana School Feeding Programme, increasing the allocation per pupil from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2.
She explained that the increment forms part of government efforts to improve the quality and nutritional value of meals served to pupils under the programme, which currently benefits millions of children in public basic schools across the country.
Dr. Lartey made the disclosure while responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, June 24, on the cost and implementation of the School Feeding Programme, which remains one of Ghana’s flagship social intervention policies aimed at boosting school enrolment, retention, and academic performance.
According to her, the adjustment is also intended to address concerns raised by caterers and stakeholders about rising food prices and the cost of preparing balanced meals for pupils.
“I had earlier stated that the amount used to be GH¢1.50 and that has been increased to GH¢2. The tax component has also been taken off so that the caterers can have the full amount to be able to serve our children.”
The minister explained that the removal of the tax component is a deliberate policy intervention designed to ensure that caterers receive the full value of the allocation without deductions, thereby enabling them to provide more nutritious and adequate meals to pupils under their care.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme, which is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, is designed to provide one hot, nutritious meal per day to pupils in public basic schools, particularly in deprived communities.
The initiative is aimed at improving school attendance, reducing hunger among schoolchildren, and supporting local agricultural production through the purchase of food items from local farmers.
Read Also…
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spam, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
