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Minister meets new leadership of Ghana School Feeding Programme
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has held her first official meeting with the new leadership of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).
The meeting brought together the National Coordinator, Madam Hajia Fati Forgor, the two Deputy National Coordinators ( Madam Felicia Mekpoi Bortey and Madam Faustina Lamptey), and the MASLOC CEO to discuss the way forward for the programme.
In her remarks, the Minister emphasized the need for strong collaboration between the GSFP and the Ministry, noting that effective teamwork would help resolve challenges affecting the programme.
She stressed that GSFP remains a priority area for President John Dramani Mahama, and as such, all stakeholders must work together to enhance its quality and expand its reach, particularly in vulnerable communities.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of proper monitoring and supervision to ensure caterers are delivering nutritious meals to school children.
The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, took the opportunity to brief the new coordinators on the programme’s structure, approval processes, reporting lines, and payment systems.
She reiterated that the GSFP, under the supervision of the Ministry, is committed to its core mandate of providing one hot, nutritious meal daily to pupils from Kindergarten to Primary Six.
Madam Hajia Fati Forgor, the new National Coordinator, expressed gratitude to the Minister for the warm reception and pledged to work closely with her deputies to fulfill the vision of the President.
She acknowledged the Minister’s commitment to strengthening the programme and assured both the President and the Ministry of her dedication to addressing challenges, including fostering open dialogue with caterers for smooth operations.
The CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Abigail Akwambea Elorm Mensah also participated in the meeting and explored potential collaboration with GSFP to support caterers financially while they await payments.
Discussions further touched on restructuring the GSFP to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
The meeting ended on a note of renewed commitment to improving the programme’s effectiveness and ensuring that school children across the country receive quality meals.
Hajia Fati and the two deputies were be later introduced to the staff of the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abena Osei Asare has expressed concerns about the failure of the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Mr. Paul Adjei to honour invitation of the Committee to assist in dealing with abandoned projects cited in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
She emphasised that some of the projects have been abandoned for more than 20 years and it kept reoccurring in the Auditor-General’s report yearly, stressing that the GETFund Administrator could assist by prioritising these projects.
However, he has failed to personally appear before the Committee since the commencement of the Committee’s public hearing in the 9th Parliament.
According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s report on Pre-University Educational Institutions, nine (9) Institutions with 16 projects awarded by the GET Fund Secretariat had been abandoned/delayed for a period ranging between three (3) and 28 years.
Some of the affected schools include Adanwomoase Senior High School (Boys and Girls dormitory abandoned for 12 years), Atoa Senior High School (Home Economics Block abandoned for 27 years), Beposo Senior High School (Dinning Hall and Kitchen Complex abandoned for 10 years and lastly KNUST Senior High School (Three storey classroom block abandoned for 20 years).
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy continued its oversight responsibilities with a working visit to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) yesterday.
Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, said the visit formed part of efforts to familiarize members with the Authority’s operations and to explore ways Parliament could provide the necessary support.
He explained that the NPA’s work is focused on regulating Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, a critical area for national energy security.
Mr. Bedzrah noted that the Committee is particularly interested in assessing whether the country has adequate petroleum stock to meet demand.
He noted that rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing US–Iran conflict, could have adverse effect on Ghana’s energy supply and pricing.
He further disclosed that the Committee intends to engage closely with the Authority on a proposed new petroleum bill.
According to him, a draft of the legislation will be reviewed and possibly presented to Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
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