The School Feeding Caterers Association has welcomed the government’s decision to increase the feeding grant for basic school students from GHC 1.50 to GHC 2.00, describing the move as a positive yet insufficient step toward addressing their concerns.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced the increment during a social media engagement on March 9, ahead of the 2025 budget presentation set for March 11. The decision follows sustained advocacy from caterers and education stakeholders, who have long argued that the previous allocation was inadequate to provide nutritious meals for students.
Nana Otu Sakyi-Amo Twafohene, National President of the School Feeding Caterers Association, expressed gratitude while urging the government to consider further measures to enhance the program.
“We were elated to hear about the increase. It’s a sign that our voices are being heard. However, we still believe that GHC 2.00 is far from sufficient to meet the rising cost of ingredients. We also hope the government will soon extend the program to include junior high school students,” he said.
He underscored the importance of sustaining and improving the school feeding program, which he described as vital for enhancing education outcomes and reducing child hunger.
“Sustaining this program is critical, and increasing the per-child feeding fee should be a priority for any government. While we say thank you to H.E. John Dramani Mahama, for listening to our concerns, we want to reiterate that GHC 2.00 is still inadequate. Nonetheless, we will do our best to manage within this framework,” he added.
The new feeding rate is expected to take effect from the third academic term, beginning in April. Many caterers remain hopeful that the government will take further steps to address their challenges and ensure the success of the program.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
