By Alex Ababio
The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has paid the first-term feeding grant to caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) across all 16 regions. The move marks the latest attempt by authorities to stabilise one of the country’s flagship social intervention programmes—an initiative that feeds millions of schoolchildren but has faced persistent funding, oversight, and sustainability challenges.
According to an official statement from the GSFP Secretariat, the payment covers the first term of the 2025/2026 academic year, which began on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The statement confirmed that the total number of cooking days for the term was 74, with feeding support provided at a rate of Two Ghana cedis (GH¢2) per child per school day.
The statement also emphasised that payments were made based on actual feeding days. “We urge caterers who have issues with the disbursement to immediately report to their respective Regional Coordinators for prompt redress,” the GSFP public relations directorate said.
Further, the Secretariat acknowledged both government support and the role of caterers, noting: “We take this opportunity to commend government for the timely release of funds, and our cherished caterers for their patience and cooperation. We also applaud their dedication and the selfless services they render to our beneficiary children.”
A Lifeline for Millions of Pupils
The GSFP remains one of Ghana’s largest social protection programmes, providing one hot nutritious meal each school day to pupils in public basic schools. Established under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and aligned with global hunger and poverty reduction targets, the initiative aims to improve school enrolment, attendance, and retention while boosting local agriculture by sourcing food locally.
Government and independent estimates indicate that the programme currently serves over 3.8 million pupils nationwide, making it a central pillar of Ghana’s education and social welfare systems.
The programme has also created significant employment opportunities, supporting more than 10,850 caterers and over 32,000 cooks across the country.
For many communities, particularly in rural and deprived areas, school meals are not just an educational incentive but a nutritional necessity. Experts note that children who benefit from school feeding programmes often demonstrate improved concentration, academic performance, and attendance rates.
Increased Government Spending and Adjustments
Recent national budgets reflect Ghana’s continued investment in sustaining the GSFP. In the 2025 fiscal year, government funding for the programme increased to approximately GH¢1.78 billion, up from GH¢1.2 billion the previous year.
Finance officials justified the increase as a response to rising food costs and a measure to ensure uninterrupted meal provision for schoolchildren. Authorities also pledged to prioritise timely payments to caterers to avoid operational disruptions.
However, economic experts and civil society groups caution that inflation has significantly eroded the real value of feeding grants. Education policy analysts argue that while budget allocations have increased nominally, food price inflation—reported to have exceeded 40 percent in recent years—has reduced purchasing power and compromised meal quality.
Caterers Call for Higher Meal Rates
Caterers and advocacy groups have long argued that the per-child feeding grant remains insufficient. The National School Feeding Caterers Association has previously suggested that a realistic rate should be between GH¢3.50 and GH¢5 per child to meet nutritional requirements amid escalating food prices.
According to education watchdog Africa Education Watch, inadequate funding has contributed to smaller portion sizes, declining food quality, and growing dissatisfaction among stakeholders, including parents and pupils.
The debate underscores broader concerns about the sustainability of the programme, especially as economic pressures intensify and public expectations remain high.
Ongoing Restructuring and Policy Reforms
The release of the latest feeding grant comes amid sweeping structural reforms within the GSFP. Earlier in 2025, government initiated a restructuring process designed to decentralise programme operations, improve meal quality, and enhance accountability in caterer payments.
In a controversial move, authorities terminated contracts for all caterers nationwide during the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year. Officials explained that the decision formed part of broader reforms aimed at improving management and operational efficiency.
While government assured caterers that outstanding arrears would be settled, the termination created uncertainty for many service providers and raised fears about disruptions to school feeding services.
Education policy analysts have welcomed the restructuring but warn that its success will depend on transparent implementation and consistent stakeholder engagement.
Accountability and Audit Concerns
Despite its achievements, the GSFP has faced longstanding scrutiny over financial management and operational transparency. Auditor-General reports have uncovered irregularities, including overpayments to caterers, payments to non-contractual service providers, and unaccounted funds from application form sales.
Investigations covering several years also found instances where meals provided to pupils were nutritionally inadequate or insufficient to sustain children throughout the school day.
In addition, data manipulation—particularly inflated enrolment figures—has been cited as a common form of fraud within the programme. Policy analysts warn that even minor inaccuracies in beneficiary data can lead to significant financial losses given the scale of GSFP operations.
These accountability concerns have fueled calls for stronger oversight mechanisms and greater transparency in procurement and payment processes.
Payment Delays and Operational Challenges
Historically, delayed payments to caterers have been one of the programme’s most persistent challenges. According to audit reports and stakeholder interviews, late disbursements often force caterers to pre-finance food purchases, which many cannot sustain.
Such financial strain has previously caused suppliers, including the National Food Buffer Stock Company, to suspend food deliveries to the programme due to unpaid debts.
Civil society organisations warn that payment delays can result in reduced meal quality or temporary suspension of feeding activities—outcomes that directly affect pupil attendance and welfare.
Calls for Decentralisation and Greater Local Control
Policy experts increasingly advocate for decentralising GSFP management to district assemblies to reduce bureaucratic delays and political interference. Education analysts argue that local authorities are better positioned to monitor food quality, verify enrolment data, and oversee caterer performance.
Advocates also propose integrating school feeding funds into local government financing frameworks to enhance transparency and community participation. Critics of the current centralised system contend that it contributes to inefficiencies and weak monitoring structures.
Broader Social and Economic Impact
Beyond education and nutrition, the GSFP plays a vital role in supporting Ghana’s local food economy. Programme guidelines encourage sourcing ingredients from local farmers, ensuring that a significant proportion of feeding expenditure circulates within domestic agricultural markets.
Economists note that this local procurement model helps stimulate rural economies while simultaneously addressing food security challenges.
Looking Ahead: Sustainability and Public Trust
The release of the first-term feeding grant for the 2025/2026 academic year reflects government’s commitment to sustaining the programme. However, stakeholders caution that long-term success will depend on balancing increased funding with strong governance reforms.
Experts warn that without consistent investment and improved oversight, the GSFP risks losing public confidence despite its substantial social impact.
With millions of Ghanaian children depending on school meals for daily nutrition and educational participation, policymakers face mounting pressure to ensure that the programme remains both financially sustainable and operationally transparent.
As Ghana continues to navigate economic constraints and social welfare demands, the GSFP stands as a critical test of government capacity to deliver essential public services effectively—and equitably—to the country’s most vulnerable citizens.