The Ministry of Education has voiced significant discontent with both the quality and quantity of meals offered to students in the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, prompting an immediate nationwide review to transform the existing school feeding system.
During a press briefing at the Presidency, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced that the Ministry is currently evaluating the decentralised feeding policy to implement substantial changes for better results.
He explained that the government does not plan to eliminate decentralisation completely but is willing to adjust it as needed
“Under the proposed new framework, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) will oversee the supply of perishable food items, while the National Food Buffer Stock Company will handle grains and other non-perishable staples,” Mr Iddrisu explained.
He clarified that the government has no intention of scrapping decentralisation entirely but is prepared to modify it where necessary. “It is not our wish to reverse the decentralisation decision – far from it,” he said. “Since my appointment as minister, and working closely with the Director-General of the Free SHS Secretariat, funds have been released directly to facilitate procurement.”
He added: “Between December and yesterday, we have disbursed between GH₵500 million and GH₵600 million; just today, I am aware that GH₵203 million, GH₵208 million, and an additional GH₵100 million have been released.”
Despite the funding, the Minister admitted that food quality remains a pressing concern. “We are simply not satisfied with the quantity and quality of the food being provided,” he stated. “This is why we are re-engaging stakeholders and repositioning our approach to ensure shared responsibility. We remain in the consultation phase, but where necessary, we will reverse the policy.”
The new government strategy is expected to have CHASS manage up to 40 percent of perishable goods, while staples such as rice, maize, and beans will be under the purview of Buffer Stock and the Ghana Commodity Exchange.
Mr Iddrisu shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the urgency of the situation: “I am not typically a WhatsApp user, but the President insisted I join. Since then, I have received disturbing images of poor-quality gari and palm nuts being served in schools. Such standards are wholly unacceptable.”
NKONKONSA.com
