The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), has commenced investigation to establish the source of a viral video in which a number of school children were served what appears to be substandard meals by a caterer.

According to the GSFP, a preliminary analysis of the video specifically on the pupils and their uniform could not establish their true origin.

Contained in a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations of the feeding programme, Siiba Alfa, she indicated that if the said incident had occurred in Ghana, the head teachers and SHEP Coordinators in the schools who are “effectively collaborating with the Ghana School Feeding Programme to inspect and taste every single meal prepared by caterers on daily basis”, would have officially reported the incident to the Programme’s regional or national secretariat by now.

“That notwithstanding, Management has commenced serious background checks to establish the actual source or root of that viral video. We have also directed all 16 Regional Coordinators of the Ghana School Feeding Programme to do their independent checks on the matter.”
GSFP

Elaborating on the content of the video, the GSFP revealed that unfortunately, the face of the suspected caterer was not captured in the video except her feet. It further noted that a man suspected to be a teacher or headteacher of the school was also captured with only his legs crossed, but without his face.

“This, therefore, makes it difficult for Management to conclude, agree or accept that the suspected caterer in the viral video is one of our trained and experienced caterers.”
GSFP

Viral Video assessment by GSFP

The management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme highlighted that it is“almost convinced that the viral video is not from any of our beneficiary Ghanaian schools”. This, it explained, is due to the fact the container used by the suspected caterer to dish out the supposed soup cannot be traced back to that of the ones being used under the GSFP.

“Ghana School Feeding caterers anywhere in Ghana have received the requisite basic nutrition and innovation training and are under strict instructions to serve foods in ice chests in order to keep the food warm at all times.”
GSFP

In its bid to resolve the issue, the GSFP appealed to the general public and any individual “who has any information or evidence” that could lead to the actual school or the caterer not to hesitate to assist the Secretariat.

“We urge our stakeholders to remain calm, and rest assured that every effort is being made to get to the bottom of the issue for a speedy redress.”
GSFP

The GSFP has recently been under public scrutiny as members of the school feeding caterer association went on an indefinite strike over unpaid arrears and insufficient feeding grant. To resolve the challenge, the GSFP Secretariat expressed that the payments to caterers will start from regions that have lower school enrolment and lower amounts.

Communications Officer at the GSFP Secretariat, Edmond Gyebi, however indicated that earlier, government had given an amount of GHC50 million out of the over GHC234 million to be paid out to these caterers.