The Ghana School Feeding Programme has received significant investments from the government under President John Dramani Mahama's administration. Over 4.5 million children are enrolled in the programme, receiving one hot meal daily. The programme aims to improve school attendance and learning outcomes. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, emphasized the importance of the programme in ensuring children receive a dependable meal.
Government funding for the programme has increased substantially over the years. In 2024, the programme received GH¢1.393 billion, which rose to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025 and further increased to GH¢1.982 billion in 2026. The feeding grant per child has also been increased from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2 per child per day. This increase enables caterers to provide better-quality meals for the children.
The School Feeding Programme has faced challenges, including delays in caterer payments and inadequate supervision. However, Dr Lartey stated that arrears owed to caterers are now a thing of the past. The government has cleared the 2024 arrears and ensured up-to-date payments to caterers for the 2025-2026 academic year. This move aims to improve the programme's efficiency and effectiveness.
To improve the programme's quality and monitoring, the government has trained 20,171 caterers and head cooks in practical nutrition standards. Compliance monitoring has nearly doubled, from 4,419 schools in 2025 to 8,270 schools in 2026. Dr Lartey emphasized the need for verified and accurate data from education stakeholders.
Dr Lartey addressed a meeting of education directors from the Ashanti and Western North regions, calling for support in providing accurate enrolment figures. She also stressed the importance of strict reporting timelines and designating specific officers to oversee transparency in school feeding data.
Hajia Fati Forgor, National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, highlighted the programme's growth since its inception in 2005. The programme now benefits close to 70% of Ghana's public schools, with approximately 4,527,000 children and 13,500 caterers and 27,000 cooks involved.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme seeks stronger collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Health, and Finance, among others. The programme aims to improve the lives of children and promote education in Ghana.
Key points
- The Ghana government has increased funding for the School Feeding Programme to GH¢1.982 billion in 2026.
- The feeding grant per child has been increased from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2 per child per day.
- The programme has trained 20,171 caterers and head cooks in practical nutrition standards.
