Elevating The Ghana School Feeding Program to Nourish Minds & Enrich Lives: An Update on Ghana’s School Feeding Program
By Ernestina Addo
Hunger has long been a barrier to learning for children in poverty-stricken areas worldwide. To address this prominent challenge, Ghana embarked on a remarkable initiative, The Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP), to bridge the gap between children from poor backgrounds and access to food. Through the provision of meals, the program offers a lifeline to countless young minds and ensures that they have the sustenance they need to learn, grow and excel academically.
The Ghana School Feeding Program GSFP, launched in 2005 through a collaborative effort by the government of Ghana and the Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) Pillar 3, sought to eliminate hunger and simultaneously support local agriculture by utilising domestically grown food to provide meals for children.
According to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the GSFP has both long term and immediate objectives. The long-term objective is multi-faceted, with a primary focus on poverty reduction and addressing food insecurity, particularly in low-income households. Additional long term objectives include boosting domestic food production by sourcing from the local economy, thereby reducing reliance on food imports. This helps create a sustainable and self-sufficient food system for the country. The immediate objective of the GSFP is to increase school enrollment by providing children with a compelling reason to attend school regularly. The program removes a barrier that may prevent children from attending school due to hunger or the inability to afford meals (source).
A Flagstaff House Basic School caterer, Hajia Safiya Alhassan provided some insight into her experience with the school feeding program.
“The School Feeding Program has made a significant impact on countless children. Many parents face challenges in providing food for their kids, making some unable to send them to school. Thanks to the Ghana School Feeding Program, we have witnessed a steady increase in attendance.”
At its core, the GSFP recognizes the fundamental connection between nutrition and education. Providing regular meals to schoolchildren addresses a critical aspect of their well-being, ensuring they are adequately nourished physically and mentally.
This foundational support sets the stage for better learning outcomes, improved concentration, and enhanced student cognitive abilities.
In a recent mission on 4th and 5th September 2023, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu and her team supervised and elevated the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) in the Greater Accra Region. The mission aimed to enhance the program’s initiatives. During the visit, the Minister engaged in productive discussions with the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon Henry Quartey. The Minister also interacted with the media, discussing various topics, including the School Feeding Program, LEAP Monitoring Exercise, Streetism and the Affirmative Action Bill.
Additionally, the team visited schools, like the Police Depo School at Tesano, to assess the effectiveness of the school feeding program and engage with pupils. They also met with GSFP caterers to reaffirm the government’s commitment to ensuring all pupils benefit from the program and address challenges caterers face.