Gender Ministry Warns School Feeding Caterers Over Substandard Meals
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has intensified sanctions against caterers who provide substandard meals under the Ghana School Feeding Programme, with contract termination among the measures being enforced to ensure quality service delivery.
The warning comes amid ongoing public concerns over the quality and nutritional value of meals served to pupils in some beneficiary schools across the country.
Addressing Parliament, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, acknowledged that monitoring and inspection exercises had revealed instances where some caterers failed to meet the required standards under the programme.
According to her, the Ministry has taken disciplinary action against offending caterers, including issuing warnings, suspending contracts and terminating agreements in cases involving repeated breaches of programme guidelines.
The Minister stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring that pupils enrolled on the School Feeding Programme receive nutritious and quality meals that support their health and academic performance.
Dr. Lartey noted that regular monitoring and supervision have been strengthened to improve compliance and maintain standards across all beneficiary schools.
Responding to questions on the issue of streetism, the Minister outlined measures being implemented by government to address the growing challenge and provide support for vulnerable children and young people living on the streets.
Meanwhile, she disclosed that the government currently has no financial clearance to expand the School Feeding Programme to cover additional schools.
According to the Minister, although there is increasing demand from schools seeking inclusion in the programme, government must first secure adequate resources to sustain existing beneficiaries before considering any further expansion.
She emphasized that ensuring the sustainability and effective management of the current programme remains a priority, adding that any future expansion would depend on the availability of the necessary funding.
-Overseer
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