CALL FOR AN URGENT REVIEW OF SCHOOL FEEDING ALLOCATION PER CHILD
Dear Hon. Dr. Naa Momo Lartey,
I WRITE respectfully to draw your attention to a matter of national importance—one that directly impacts the health, development, and dignity of our schoolchildren. Given your office’s dedication to social welfare and protection, I trust this appeal will receive the urgent attention it deserves.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme remains one of the most impactful social protection initiatives in our country. It has contributed significantly to improved school enrolment, attendance, and the nutritional well-being of thousands of children, particularly in underserved communities. However, a critical issue continues to threaten its effectiveness: the current meal allocation of GHS 2.00 per child per day.
In the face of soaring food prices, rising transportation costs, and general economic challenges, this amount is simply unsustainable. It is unrealistic to expect caterers to provide nutritious, balanced meals with this limited allocation.
As a result, many caterers are compelled to compromise on food quality and quantity—putting the health of our children at risk and undermining the programme’s objectives.
Truthfully, no parent in Ghana today would budget GHS 2.00 for a child’s meal and expect it to be adequate. If this is not acceptable in our homes, it certainly should not be acceptable for children who depend on state-provided meals, many of whom rely on this as their only meal of the day.
Honourable Minister, if we must do school feeding, let us do it well. I therefore respectfully urge your office, in collaboration with the Ghana School Feeding Secretariat and regional coordinators, to urgently review and increase the per-child allocation in line with current market realities.
Such a revision will:
– Ensure that meals provided meet basic nutritional standards;
– Improve the health, energy, and concentration levels of pupils;
– Encourage better school attendance and retention; and
– Support caterers to deliver quality services sustainably.
The success of this programme is not just about food; it’s about dignity, equity, and the future of our nation. We owe our children better.
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
Respectfully,
Nii Ayitey Armah
Nungua.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
