School feeding: Okudzeto Ablakwa slams Akufo-Addo over GHS1.20p Feeding Cost

Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has fumed over the recent increment of the cost of feeding per head for a child per day under the School Feeding Programme.

According to him, increasing school feeding cost per meal per child from from GHS0.97 to GHS1.20p in this current economic hardship is not enough.

He lamented that a government who is struggling to pay school feeding caterers and feed children in public schools is capable of paying a colossal US$5.8million to Adjaye just for adding a restaurant to his cathedral design.

“An incredible paradox — a govt unable to feed children in public schools but has absolutely no objection paying a colossal US$5.8million to Adjaye just for adding a restaurant to his cathedral design. The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia govt has told school feeding caterers their demand for.” The Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs in parliament, Okudzeto Ablakwa tweeted.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu has confirmed that the cost of feeding per head for a child per day under the School Feeding Programe is being increased from GHS0.97 to GHS1.20p.

The programme is one of the social protection flagship programmes which is consistent with other major policies and development strategies of the Government such as Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda, Ghana National Social Protection Strategy and currently hinging on SDGs 1, 2, 4 & 5.

Over the last few years, caterers employed by the government have complained about the GHS0.97 allocated for a child per day.

Not only the caterers but various advocacy groups in the education sector have always called on the government to increase the allocation.

Although the caterers wanted an increment to at least GH3, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu has indicated that GHS1.20p is what has been approved.

According to the Minister, the Ministry admits that the increment is not enough and will continue to do engagements for additional increments in the future.

“It was GHS1 and we have added 20p. Of course, it’s not enough but gradually it will go up. So the caterers should bear with us,” Lariba Zuweira Abudu.

Source: Elvisanokyenews.com