News
Payment of School feeding fee…a nightmare for parents
Despite the urge to ensure that every child goes to school, certain demands are making it impossible for a number of parents to ensure their wards remain in school for the five days of the week.
Among the demands is the payment of feeding fee for the wards on daily basis.
In recent times, the payment of feeding fees have become a nightmare for a lot of parent, especially those with two or three wards.
The Spectator checks with several parents from schools indicated that wards are charged between Gh¢15- Gh¢20 on daily basis for food served to the children.
For the parents, they see nothing wrong with the service but what was troubling them was the amount which they found exorbitant but attributed to the high cost of foodstuff.
Interestingly, such parents have a huge sigh of relief on weekends and public holidays, knowing they would be free from paying feeding fee.
It was on this premise that some parents hailed the additional holiday added to the celebration of Ramadan.
Mrs Anita Adu, a mother of three pays, Gh¢60 daily as feeding fee, amounting to Gh¢300 per week in addition to school fees, books, snacks and breakfast.
She was extremely happy about the recent holidays as she saved a total of Gh¢120.
A second parent (name withheld) who also pays the same amount per week shared similar challenges and wished that parents with more than two wards be given a discount.
Mr Maxwell Tetteh, is a single parent taking care of one daughter, said it was not easy paying Gh¢150 a week.
But the caterers also explained to The Spectator that they cannot be blamed for the increased prices of the food prepared for the school children.
Mrs Rosemond Owusu, a caterer, explained how foodstuffs have become very expensive and the struggle they go through to make a suitable budget for schools.
She said “Chicken for instance is sold for Gh¢10. So, if the caterer charges for Gh¢12 per plate, it means only Gh¢2 would be left for a plate of rice and the stew. Obviously the caterer would run at a loss.”
A Headmistress of a private school, who also spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity, explained that since some schools are unable to increase schools fees, they increase feeding fees and use the addition to support the payment of teachers’ salaries.
According to her, feeding fee should not be more than Gh¢15 because some parents have about three to four children in one school and pays so much.
The Headmistress, however, indicated that such increments must first be discussed at Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting for parents to be aware.
Mrs Evelyn Abbey, also a Headmistress of a private school, encouraged caterers to buy ingredients in bulk so that pricing of feeding fee will be less.
However, she said feeding fee was not compulsory as parents can cook for their children to school.
Another Headmistress of a public school, (name withheld) stated that due to economic hardship, not all parent can afford feeding fees.
According to him, lower income earning parents would always approach the school authorities on an impending holiday, knowing that it would be a day free of the dreaded feeding fee.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
The Ghana Police Service has begun automated enforcement of road traffic laws under a new system dubbed Traffitech-GH.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Service said the project officially took effect on November 1, 2026.
The system is being implemented by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).
Under the initiative, motorists who commit traffic offences will receive an Electronic Notice of Violation (ENV).
The Police said motorists must first check that the notification comes from the official Sender ID, GPS-MTTD, adding that genuine notifications will not be sent from an ordinary mobile phone number.
Motorists are to open the ENV to confirm the vehicle’s photograph and number plate, as well as the location, date and time of the offence, and watch the video where available.
According to the police, payments can be made through the NIB Payment Portal.
The Police cautioned motorists and vehicle owners to remain vigilant against fraud and never pay a traffic fine into a personal mobile money number or through any unofficial account.
The Service expressed appreciation to the general public, particularly motorists, vehicle owners and transport operators, for their cooperation in promoting safer roads and ensuring compliance with road traffic laws.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Miracles Aboagye, has taken a swipe at the government over the worsening cost of living in the country.
In a strongly worded statement, Aboagye said while the cost of living continues to skyrocket, the government keeps pointing Ghanaians to figures on paper.
According to him, the reality on the ground tells a different story:
Cocoa farmers have suffered a haircut, tertiary students are demonstrating over high fees and accommodation, teachers and nurses are striking over unpaid allowances, and judiciary workers are also on strike over unpaid allowances.
He added that transport fares, electricity, water, and fuel prices are all higher than before, making life unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaian.
“The cost of living and the pocket of the Ghanaian citizen keeps worsening but government says, don’t cry about the pocket when the paper looks good,” Aboagye said.
He summed up his criticism with the hashtags #PaperEconomyPocketDry and #PaperEconomyVsPocketEconomy — a direct jab at what he describes as a disconnect between official economic figures and the daily struggles of Ghanaians.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
