Finance Minister Reaffirms Commitment to School Feeding Programme

Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the timely disbursement of funds for caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). During a courtesy visit by the new Country Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Aurore Rusiga, Dr. Forson emphasized the need to address payment delays to maintain and improve the programme’s effectiveness.

“The current rate of just over 1 cedi per child per day is clearly inadequate. That’s why I’ve taken steps to increase it to 2 cedis and am working with partners to raise it further,” he said.

He also stressed, “Most importantly, we are committed to ensuring that payments to caterers are made on time to ensure the smooth functioning of the programme.”

The government has allocated GH¢1.78 billion to the School Feeding Programme this year. However, Dr. Forson acknowledged the need for additional resources and urged the WFP to provide more support to expand the programme’s reach and impact.

Ms. Rusiga welcomed the minister’s commitment to timely payments, noting that the success of WFP initiatives, such as introducing fortified rice to enhance the nutritional value of school meals, relies heavily on reliable funding. She also emphasized the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of the School Feeding Programme, an effort WFP is ready to support in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ghana Government.

The School Feeding Programme plays a crucial role in improving child nutrition, increasing school enrollment, and supporting local caterers and food suppliers. With the Finance Ministry’s commitment to timely fund disbursement, the programme is expected to operate more efficiently, benefiting both children and service providers across the country.