Government allocates GH¢1.982bn to School Feeding Programme, reaches 4.5m children
School feeding coverage rises to 4.5 million children as government increases funding and monitoring.
The Ghanaian government has committed nearly GH¢2 billion to the Ghana School Feeding Programme for the year 2026, ensuring that over 4.5 million children receive a daily hot meal. This allocation marks a significant increase from GH¢1.393 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.982 billion this year, reflecting the government's commitment to enhancing child nutrition.
Currently, the program serves 4,527,636 children, an increase from the 4,029,580 children in 2024. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, emphasized that the expansion of the program demonstrates the administration's dedication to improving child nutrition, which in turn contributes to increased school attendance and retention rates.
The feeding grant has also been adjusted, rising from GH¢1.50 per child in the past to the current GH¢2.00 per child. This improvement not only benefits the children but also provides caterers with the necessary funds to manage their operations effectively. Dr Lartey mentioned that the government has cleared arrears from 2024 and disbursed funds for the first and second terms of the 2025/26 academic year.
In addition to monetary support, the government has taken steps to enhance the quality of the meals provided. The monitoring of the program has expanded from covering 4,419 schools in 2025 to 8,270 schools in the current year. Furthermore, 20,171 caterers and head cooks have received training in practical nutrition standards, ensuring that the meals served meet the required quality and nutritional benchmarks.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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