The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has successfully disbursed the first term arrears to caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) across all 16 regions of the country.
This significant step highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of the school feeding initiative, which plays a crucial role in enhancing the nutrition and education of school children.
“The total number of cooking days for the first term of the 2023/2024 academic year which began on 3rd October 2023 was 58.
“However, four days were deducted from the total amount due to official communication instructing caterers to use 3rd to 6th October 2023 to clean up their kitchen environment.”
Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat
As a result, the official cooking days began on 9th October 2023, reducing the effective cooking days to 54.
The National Secretariat of the GSFP indicated that caterers have been compensated for these 54 cooking days at a rate of One Ghana Cedi Twenty Pesewas (GHC1.20) per child per school day. Caterers need to note that the payment corresponds to the actual number of days they provided meals to the beneficiary pupils during the term.
Despite the timely payment, the National Secretariat of the GSFP received several complaints from caterers across the 16 regions regarding alleged underpayments. These complaints have raised concerns about the accuracy and fairness of the recent payments.
In response to these grievances, the National Secretariat directed all caterers who believe they have been underpaid or unpaid to report their issues to their respective Regional Coordinators.
The National Secretariat assured that the reports will be thoroughly investigated to determine the claims’ veracity and ascertain whether the affected caterers provided meals throughout the term or were impacted by the deductions for non-cooking days.
The National Secretariat showed commitment to resolving these issues promptly and urged caterers to remain calm while the necessary efforts are made to address their concerns.
The Secretariat further appreciated the patience, endurance, and cooperation of the caterers during the delays in the payment of arrears.
Commendation for Caterers
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, alongside the National Secretariat, commended all caterers for their dedication and selfless service. Despite the delays and challenges, the caterers have continued to provide nutritious meals to school children, significantly contributing to their health and educational outcomes.
“The role of caterers in the GSFP cannot be overstated. By ensuring that children receive at least one nutritious meal a day, caterers help improve school attendance, retention rates, and overall academic performance.”
Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat
The Ghana School Feeding Programme is a flagship initiative aimed at providing free meals to children in public primary schools. This programme is designed to address hunger and malnutrition among school children, thereby improving their health and educational performance.
By ensuring that children receive at least one nutritious meal a day, the GSFP aims to enhance school attendance and retention rates, contributing to the overall development of the nation.
Moreover, the GSFP plays a vital role in supporting local economies. By sourcing food from local farmers, the programme boosts agricultural production and provides a stable market for farmers’ produce. This, in turn, helps to reduce poverty and food insecurity in rural areas.
The government highlighted its commitment to the continuous improvement and expansion of the GSFP. Efforts are being made to ensure timely payments to caterers and to address any challenges that may arise.
In addition to addressing the immediate concerns of caterers, the government is also exploring ways to improve the overall management and implementation of the GSFP. This includes strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that the programme delivers maximum benefits to the children and communities it serves.
The payment of first-term arrears to caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to support education and social protection. While challenges remain, the government is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the smooth operation of the programme.
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