National school feeding policy launched

A policy framework for the National School Feeding programme has been launched in Accra by the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur.

The goal of the policy, which was launched on July 20, is to deliver a well-organised, decentralised intervention by providing disadvantaged schoolchildren with nutritionally-adequate food. The ministry hopes to reduce poverty through improved household incomes as a result, and also spur local economic development.

The minister at the launch of the programme observed that the school feeding programme formed part of Ghana's efforts towards the UN-MDGs on hunger, poverty, and primary education.

According to her, the ministry took oversight responsibility of the programme in August 2015, after it had commenced in September 2005 in ten pilot schools, one in each region.

The programme now covers basic schools across the entire country.

"Currently, the programme covers about 4,877 public basic schools in 216 districts with total enrolment of over 1,728,681 pupils in the country,” the minister stressed.

She was hopeful that the policy would continue to strengthen their efforts to get Ghanaian children not only good food, but also good education as they stay in school.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme also employs 5,365 caterers and engages 1,170 farmer organisations.

The national coordinator of the programme, Patrick Acheampong, maintained that the programme was one of the five flagship initiatives under the National Social Protection Policy Framework approved by Cabinet in December 2015 as a government initiative which conforms to Pillar Three of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

He expressed happiness that the programme had achieved some successes, such as payment of nine months’ arrears owed caterers from August 2015 to June 2016, amounting to GhS450, 000.

Additionally, all caterers have been moved to an electronic payment system to allow caterers receive immediate payment when funds are disbursed.

The ministry has also completed negotiations with the National Service Secretariat for two national service personnel postings to each of the 216 districts across Ghana to assist with the monitoring and evaluation of activities of the programme.