The government has paid all arrears of caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).
This was disclosed by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta while delivering the 2023 Mid-Year Budget review on Monday, July 31.
According to Mr Ofori-Atta, the government will continue to sustain social protection programmes to protect the poor and the vulnerable.
“Under the LEAP programme, Government disbursed a total of GH¢169.95 million as at June 2023 to 346,019 households comprising 1,533,748 individuals. This includes the increase of the monthly grant to beneficiary households from GH¢32.00 to GH¢64.00 for one-member household and GH¢38.00 to GH¢76.00 form two-member households. Our target under this programme period is to reach about 8 percent of the population, that is 2.5 million people.
“Under the Ghana School Feeding Programme, coverage increased considerably from 1,671,777 beneficiaries in 2016 to 3,801,491 beneficiaries by June 2023. The feeding grants cost per meal, per child, per day increased from GH¢1.00 to GH¢1.20 for the 2023 academic year. We have also settled all arrears owed to caterers under the programme for the second and third terms of the 2022 academic
year; and the first term of 2023.
“The Capitation Grant contributed to increased enrolment in public basic schools from 6,048,897 pupils for the 2021/2022 academic year to 6,114,302 pupils for the 2022/2023 academic year.”
Caterers across the country in the last few months complained about the arrears owed them by the government.
They vowed not to cook for the school children until monies owed them are paid.
They also demanding an increase in the amount paid per child from GH¢1 to GH¢3.50.