Finance Minister-nominee Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has assured Ghanaians that the School Feeding Programme will not only be sustained but also improved under his watch.Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 13, Dr. Forson emphasized the importance of the initiative, particularly in rural communities, and expressed concerns about the current funding levels.

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"I come from a rural area, and I know the impact of the School Feeding Programme. My concern is that the amount you give today per child is not enough to feed the child well. The current money is not enough to buy an egg. We will not only sustain it, but we will make it better," he assured.Dr. Forson further pledged that his fiscal policies would balance economic stability with social welfare.

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"Our policies will be designed in a way that, though strong, could preserve growth and protect the vulnerable," he added.The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) had previously announced an increment in the feeding grant per pupil from GHS1.20 to GHS1.50, which is set to take effect from the second term of the 2023/2024 academic year.

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A statement issued by the GSFP on July 5, 2024, confirmed that the first-term payments were processed at the previous rate of GHS1.20 per pupil as specified in the 2023 budget, emphasizing that exceeding this rate would have posed significant financial challenges.

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"All caterers are kindly requested to exercise a little more patience as we finalize the processes for the second-term payment," the statement noted, assuring that efforts were underway to clear outstanding arrears at the newly approved rate.

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