Ghana's School Feeding Program: Urgent Reforms Needed to Fix Systemic Issues

Ghana School Feeding Program Needs Urgent Reform: Africa Education Watch The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), which provides meals to millions of schoolchildren, is facing calls for urgent reforms. Africa Education Watch, an education policy think tank, has released a statement outlining critical observations and recommendations for improvement. Key concerns include the inefficient and often opaque procurement processes, a lack of accountability, and instances of wrongful payments to caterers. "When you are reforming, aiming to improve, it's important that you seek the buying and support of key stakeholders," says Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch. The organization's statement points to specific problems, such as the termination of catering contracts one day before schools reopened, leading to disruptions in food provision. They also highlight the issue of payments made to caterers who were not under contract, and overpayments to those who were. Asare emphasizes the need for a national forum to bring together stakeholders to discuss solutions. The group also recommends expediting the decentralized procurement of caterers, implementing a digital tracking system to monitor program delivery, and collaborating with the Ministries of Finance and Local Government to facilitate fiscal decentralization. These measures, they believe, will enhance efficiency, accountability, and ultimately, the effectiveness of the GSFP, ensuring children receive the nutrition they need to thrive in their education. The GSFP plays a vital role in improving school attendance, especially in deprived areas. The reforms proposed by Africa Education Watch aim to address the systemic issues that have hampered the program's success and ensure its long-term sustainability.