Quality of meals under school feeding programme to be improved in 2018

Following several reports highlighting poor quality of meals being served pupils under the Ghana School Feeding Programme, the government in collaboration with caterers under the program have taken steps to address the situation before next academic term begins.

Concerns from the public particularly members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been raised about the quality of meals being served over one million and seven thousand pupils who are entitled to one hot meal per day under the programme.

However, cooks and head teachers benefitting from the Ghana School Feeding Programme have undergone training on the use of a new food nutrient to ensure delicious and quality food is provided for beneficiary pupils.

National Coordinator of the feeding program, Dr. Kwame Adu-Nsiah has however indicated caterers under the programme from next academic term are going to be constantly monitored to ensure they strictly adhere to laid down procedures in preparing meals.

“We have given them orientation because these are new caterers who have taken over. It is an ongoing activity and as and when we think there is the need for them to get orientation, then we give them”, Dr. Adu Nsiah exclusively told mynewsgh.com’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent Kwabena Danso-Dapaah after a three-day orientation for caters in the region.

“We are doing all these things to ensure that the caterers are constantly monitored because we know that for some of the caterers if we do not monitor them, they can cut corners”, the National Coordinator stated.

“We have a nutrition department at the school feeding programme that collaborates with other nutrition departments in the various districts so they together do the menu according to what the District potential is in terms of food items”, Dr. Adu Nsiah revealed.

According to him, the training was to equip the participants with knowledge on the new product prescribed for the programme.

Ashanti Regional Coordinator for the Programme, Mrs. Mary Duodu on behalf of the caters in the region also promised to adhere to rules and regulations received from officers to make feeding in the region a successful one.