Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to increase the daily allocation for the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) from GHC 1.50 to GHC 2.00 per child, a move aimed at addressing inflation and ensuring better nutrition for schoolchildren.
Speaking in a live X (formerly Twitter) Spaces session hosted by social media influencer Kalyjay, Dr. Forson acknowledged that the current amount was inadequate.
“Today, unfortunately, we will all agree that this amount is too small and can’t even buy one egg,” he admitted. “I think I can broadly say that we intend to increase that to a minimum of two cedis per child per day.”
The adjustment represents at least a 33% increase in funding for the program, which has faced financial constraints since its introduction in 2005. The GSFP, which provides meals for schoolchildren to improve enrollment and retention, has been plagued by delays in payments to caterers, sparking frustration within the sector.
Longstanding Challenges in the School Feeding Programme
Despite a previous increment from GHC 1.20 to GHC 1.50 in 2024, caterers have frequently reported inconsistencies in payments, with many receiving less than the approved amount or experiencing long delays. In January 2025, Minister-designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, acknowledged these issues during her vetting and pledged to resolve them.
Subsequently, the GSFP announced that 40 out of 71 cooking days owed for the first term of the 2024/2025 academic year had been paid, with the remaining 31 days expected to be cleared soon.
Budget Focus on Social Welfare and Gender Initiatives
Dr. Forson also hinted at a significant budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Gender, aimed at strengthening social protection programs, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative and efforts to combat domestic violence. However, he withheld specific figures, stating that full details would be disclosed during the official budget presentation on March 11.
As the government prepares to unveil its first budget under the new administration, stakeholders anticipate further measures to ease financial burdens and enhance social welfare programs across the country.
