Orientation Workshop on GSFP for the Media

Bolgatanga (U/E), June 30, GNA - The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP)is reaching out to more schools in the most deprived communities nationwide.

Mrs Irene Messiba, Assistant Director of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development said this during an orientation workshop on the GSFP for the media at Bolgatanga.

The concept of the GSFP is to feed children in selected public schools with one hot nutritious meal, prepared from locally grown foodstuffs, on every academic day.

Mrs Messiba said the programme would also give local farmers marketing opportunities and help them make some money.

She said: 93We do not need to go outside this region to other regions to purchase foodstuffs to feed our children, since we produce quality and nutritious foodstuffs here."

The GSFP has been implemented in order to reduce poverty level in the deprived communities, improve food security, increase school enrolment, attendance and retention, boost domestic food production and reduce hunger and malnutrition amongst school children, Mrs Messiba said.

She added that although there had been some linkages between farmers and caterers, it was still a challenge because of the absence of a clear government policy guideline on the GSFP.

She asked Parents and the media to visit and monitor the beneficiary schools regularly to ensure that the children were given good and nutritious meals.