Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the timely release of funds for caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the new Country Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Aurore Rusiga, Dr. Forson emphasized that delays in payments must be addressed to sustain and improve the programme.
“The current rate of just over 1 cedi per child per day is woefully inadequate. That is why I have taken steps to increase it to 2 cedis and am actively working with partners to raise it further,” Dr. Forson stated.
“More importantly, we are committed to ensuring that payments to caterers are made on time to guarantee the smooth operation of the programme.”
Government has allocated 1.78 billion cedis to the School Feeding Programme this year. However, Dr. Forson acknowledged the need for additional resources and urged the WFP to channel more support into the initiative to expand its impact.
Ms. Rusiga welcomed the minister’s commitment to timely payments, noting that the success of the WFP’s proposed initiatives—such as introducing fortified rice to improve the nutritional value of school meals—depends on the reliability of funding.
She also highlighted the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the School Feeding Programme, an effort WFP is willing to support in collaboration with the World Bank and the Government of Ghana.
The School Feeding Programme plays a critical role in improving child nutrition, increasing school enrollment, and supporting local caterers and food suppliers.
With the Finance Ministry’s assurance of timely fund disbursement, the programme is expected to run more efficiently, benefiting both children and service providers across the country.