The National Coordinator of Ghana’s School Feeding Programme (GSFP), Hajia Fati Forgor, says the programme is undergoing a major reset aimed at restoring efficiency, strengthening accountability, and improving the quality of meals served to pupils nationwide.
Speaking to the media at the School Feeding Secretariat in Accra, she explained that although her appointment took effect on February 20, 2025, she formally assumed active duties around March 10, using the period to familiarise herself with the programme and put systems in place to ensure smooth implementation.
One of the first challenges addressed by the new management was the settlement of outstanding arrears owed to caterers.
According to the National Coordinator, all such payments have been cleared using the revised feeding fee of GH¢2 per child per meal.
She confirmed that caterers who cooked during the third term have been fully paid and expressed confidence that payments for the first term of the 2025/2026 academic year will be made on schedule.
To improve service delivery, the programme has introduced new caterers, as well as zonal and regional coordinators, all of whom have undergone targeted training.
Monitoring and evaluation have also been intensified, with three nationwide monitoring exercises conducted this term alone to assess hygiene standards, compliance, and meal quality.
Health and safety, she noted, remain central to the reforms. Caterers and cooks are required to undergo medical screening and possess valid health certificates, while cooking environments are routinely inspected.
In addition, the GSFP has rolled out nationwide practical training for caterers, focusing on food quantities, nutrition, and balanced meals.
The training is currently ongoing in the Oti, Volta, and Bono Regions, with plans to extend it to all regions after the school break.
Hajia Fati said the programme currently serves 12,045 public schools, benefiting approximately 4.27 million pupils.
While expansion remains a priority, she acknowledged that removing schools from the programme has become increasingly difficult due to growing dependency, even in communities that have become more urbanised.
Despite ongoing challenges, she expressed satisfaction with improvements in food quality and reaffirmed her commitment to restoring public confidence in the School Feeding Programme.
Source: myxyzonline.com
