The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu has disclosed that caterers for the Ghana School Feeding Programme would receive payments of their arrears for the third term of the 2022 academic year by next week.
She noted that the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance had paid for the first and second term arrears of the 2022 academic year.
The Minister who disclosed this during a press briefing in Accra on Sunday added, “11,052 caterers files have been cleared for payment. However, some caterers did not cook during the third term of the 2022 academic year and would not be paid.”
She noted that there has been considerable growth and expansion of the programme from 1,671,777 beneficiaries in 2016 to 3,801,491 in public basic schools (KG to Primary six).
She indicated that the feeding cost for a meal per day per child had been increased from 80 Pesewas in 2018 to GHC 1.00. Adding, “In 2023, the cost for a meal per day per child has been proposed as GHC1.20.”
She noted that the programme continues to provide employment for 34,350 caterers and cooks especially women to generate income to enable them take care of their families.
“Also, the programme has created a ready market for local farmers hereby boosting local economy and it is currently running an electronic monitoring system which provides real time data to enhance programme delivery,” she emphasized.
Madam Abudu gave the assurance that the Ministry would continue to implement planned activities and monitor compliance to standards.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
