The government has trained 20,171 caterers and head cooks under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in practical nutrition standards as part of efforts to improve the quality of meals served to pupils across the country. Editorial Standards
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, disclosed that the training was designed to strengthen caterers’ understanding of balanced diets, food preparation, hygiene, and the nutritional needs of schoolchildren.
According to the Minister, the initiative forms part of broader measures to ensure that meals provided under the programme meet approved nutritional standards and contribute meaningfully to the health, growth, and educational development of beneficiaries.
Ms Lartey made the disclosure during the Accountability Series on Wednesday, September 16, where she outlined progress made by the government in improving the implementation and oversight of the School Feeding Programme.
She explained that the training of caterers and head cooks was necessary because the success of the programme could not be measured only by the number of pupils served. Newscard
The nutritional value, safety, and consistency of the meals were equally important considerations.The Minister noted that caterers play a central role in translating the objectives of the programme into practical outcomes.
Their knowledge of nutrition standards, food handling, portion sizes, and meal preparation methods is therefore essential to ensuring that pupils receive wholesome and safe meals.
In addition to the training programme, the government has expanded compliance monitoring across schools participating in the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
Ms Lartey revealed that the number of schools covered by compliance monitoring increased from 4,419 in 2025 to 8,270 in 2026.
The expansion, she said, would enable authorities to improve oversight of meal preparation, food distribution, and service delivery.
The increased monitoring is expected to help identify gaps in the implementation of the programme and ensure that caterers adhere to established guidelines. It could also support efforts to improve accountability and reduce inconsistencies in the quality of meals served to pupils.
The Minister further highlighted the government’s increased financial commitment to the School Feeding Programme.She disclosed that funding for the initiative rose from GH¢1.393 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025. The allocation increased further to GH¢1.982 billion in 2026, reflecting the government’s stated commitment to sustaining and expanding the programme.
Despite the increase in overall funding, Ms Lartey noted that the feeding grant remained at GH¢2 per meal.
The programme, however, currently provides meals to more than 4.5 million pupils every day.The figures underline the scale of the initiative and the financial pressures involved in delivering meals to millions of schoolchildren amid changes in food prices, transportation costs, and other operational expenses. Corrections Policy
The Minister also addressed concerns relating to payments owed to caterers. She said the government had cleared all caterer arrears from 2024 and had paid the first and second terms of the 2025/2026 academic year.
“Alongside that funding growth, we have cleared all caterer arrears from 2024 and paid the first and second terms of the 2025/2026 academic year,” she added.
Timely payment to caterers remains an important part of the programme’s sustainability, as delays can affect food procurement, meal preparation, and the ability of caterers to continue serving pupils consistently.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme was introduced to improve school enrolment, attendance, and retention while providing nutritional support to children, particularly those in public basic schools. Editorial Standards
Over the years, the programme has become an important social protection intervention for households and communities.
However, its effectiveness depends on several factors, including adequate funding, reliable payment systems, proper monitoring, food safety, and the nutritional quality of meals provided.
The latest training and monitoring figures suggest that the government is placing greater emphasis on quality assurance alongside programme expansion.
Continued monitoring will be necessary to determine whether the training translates into improved meal standards and better outcomes for pupils.
The government’s disclosures also highlight the need for sustained collaboration among the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, school authorities, caterers, local officials, parents, and other stakeholders to ensure that the School Feeding Programme delivers its intended educational and nutritional benefits.