Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the prompt release of funds for caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).

This assurance comes as part of efforts to address delays in payments and improve the effectiveness of the programme.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the new Country Representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Aurore Rusiga, Dr. Forson stressed the importance of timely payments to caterers in order to sustain and enhance the programme’s impact.

“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 said. “More importantly, we are committed to ensuring that payments to caterers are made on time to guarantee the smooth operation of the programme.”

The government has allocated 1.78 billion cedis to the School Feeding Programme this year. However, Dr. Forson acknowledged that additional resources are needed to further expand its reach and improve its effectiveness. He urged the WFP to provide more support to strengthen the initiative.

In response, Ms. Rusiga welcomed Dr. Forson’s commitment to ensuring timely payments and emphasized that the success of initiatives like introducing fortified rice to enhance the nutritional value of school meals depends on the reliability of funding.

“We are ready to collaborate with the World Bank and the Government of Ghana on a comprehensive evaluation of the School Feeding Programme,” Ms. Rusiga added, highlighting the need for a thorough assessment to improve the programme’s outcomes.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme plays a vital role in improving child nutrition, boosting school enrollment, and supporting local caterers and food suppliers. With the Finance Ministry’s assurance of timely fund disbursement, the programme is expected to operate more smoothly, benefiting both children and service providers across the country.