Eduwatch Calls for Financially Sound Caterers in Ghana’s School Feeding Programme
Think Tank Urges Government to Prioritise Quality and Accountability
Education think tank Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) is calling on the government to ensure that only financially stable and competent caterers are engaged in Ghana’s School Feeding Programme (GSFP), citing recurring concerns over poor meal quality, delayed payments, and lack of accountability.
In a policy brief released on Monday, Eduwatch emphasised that while the GSFP has improved school enrolment and retention, its sustainability is being undermined by operational inefficiencies, including the engagement of caterers with weak financial capacity.
“The programme’s intended impact on child nutrition and education outcomes is at risk. Many caterers lack the resources to pre-finance meals, leading to inconsistent supply and poor-quality food,” said Eduwatch Executive Director, Kofi Asare.
A Call for Transparency and Monitoring
Eduwatch also recommended that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, which oversees the GSFP, improve the transparency of the caterer selection process and adopt stricter financial vetting criteria.
The group urged the government to publish the list of caterers and their contract details, increase meal grants to match inflation, and implement digital monitoring systems for food delivery and attendance tracking.
According to data from Eduwatch, over 3.8 million pupils across more than 10,000 public basic schools benefit from the School Feeding Programme nationwide.
Read More: Gender Minister Terminates Contracts of Ghana School Feeding Regional and Zonal Coordinators
