The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has initiated an investigation into claims of poor quality and insufficient meals provided to students at Buaduyili Primary School under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). This action follows complaints from parents and teachers in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region regarding the meals, raising public concern about the oversight of this significant national social initiative.
Investigation Launched Amidst Public Scrutiny
The ministry confirmed the commencement of a fact-finding mission on June 9, 2026, in partnership with the Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat. This exercise aims to thoroughly assess the validity of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding them.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme is a cornerstone of the government’s social protection strategy. Its primary objectives include mitigating hunger among school children, boosting school enrollment and attendance rates, and enhancing the overall nutritional well-being of pupils nationwide.
Fact-Finding Mission to Uncover Lapses
The ongoing investigation is designed to ascertain whether the concerns voiced by parents and teachers are substantiated. It will also identify any potential shortcomings in the programme’s implementation, monitoring mechanisms, or service delivery processes.
The ministry has stated that decisive action, including appropriate sanctions, will be taken against any individuals or organizations found to be responsible for any irregularities. This investigation occurs at a time of heightened public interest in the effectiveness and accountability of the School Feeding Programme.
Child welfare advocates and education experts consistently highlight the programme’s vital role in improving educational access, reducing student absenteeism, and providing essential nutritional support, especially for children in less privileged communities.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Reforms and Accountability
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection reiterated the government’s dedication to strengthening social protection initiatives as part of its broader development agenda. Deliberate measures are reportedly being implemented to enhance the financing, monitoring, and overall execution of the School Feeding Programme.
These ongoing reforms are intended to boost efficiency, ensure greater accountability, and elevate the quality of services provided, while simultaneously protecting the integrity of the programme. The ministry issued a stern warning that any actions or omissions that compromise the programme’s objectives, standards, or credibility will not be tolerated.
“Government, through its Reset Agenda, continues to take deliberate and concrete steps to strengthen social protection interventions and improve the financing, monitoring and implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme to ensure efficiency, accountability and quality service delivery,” the ministry declared in its statement.
Call for Stakeholder Collaboration to Ensure Programme Integrity
The ministry has also issued a call for enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders. This includes regional and zonal coordinators, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, community leaders, parents, the media, and the general public.
This collaborative effort is crucial for improving transparency and accountability within the School Feeding Programme. Stakeholders are encouraged to work closely with the ministry and the GSFP Secretariat to monitor implementation and guarantee that beneficiary pupils receive the full intended benefits of the initiative.
The ministry reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the School Feeding Programme’s integrity, ensuring it continues to serve the best interests of Ghanaian children. The government remains resolute in its determination to ensure the programme meaningfully contributes to children’s growth, development, and education, supporting national goals for improved learning outcomes and social welfare.
Since its inception nearly two decades ago, the Ghana School Feeding Programme has been instrumental in increasing school enrollment and attendance, particularly in rural and underserved areas, solidifying its position as a key social protection intervention in the country.
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