Decentralise school feeding procurement now – Eduwatch tells govt

Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch) is calling on the government to accelerate critical reforms in the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), with a strong push for the decentralisation of caterer procurement and contract management.

In a statement issued on Sunday, May 18, Eduwatch stated that such reforms are vital for enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring better food quality, and increasing transparency within the programme.

While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) to improve the GSFP, Eduwatch raised concerns about persistent systemic challenges, particularly in deprived communities where the programme serves as a lifeline for school attendance and retention.

One major concern was the ministry’s decision to terminate all GSFP catering contracts on May 2—just one working day before schools reopened for the third term. Eduwatch criticised the timing as “poorly planned,” stating it disrupted the provision of meals and led to reduced attendance in rural schools, where the GSFP remains a key incentive for enrolment.

The organisation also questioned the accuracy of official GSFP coverage figures. Although the 2025 national budget reported an increase in beneficiaries from 4 million to 4.2 million, Eduwatch argued that unpaid arrears have forced many caterers to withdraw their services, resulting in fewer children actually receiving meals.

“The number of pupils benefiting from the programme continues to decline, contradicting the figures in the budget,” the statement said.

Eduwatch echoed concerns previously raised by the Auditor-General regarding the financial strain on caterers, many of whom struggle to pre-finance food provision while maintaining quality standards. The organisation stressed that going forward, only caterers with proven technical and financial capacity should be awarded contracts.