Free SHS: Students now eat nutritious meals, not ‘rice with coloured water’ – Deputy Minister

Deputy Health Minister Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah has defended the quality of meals provided to students under Ghana’s Free Senior High School programme, stating that the food is now more nutritious and balanced. On Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, she recalled concerns from citizens when President John Mahama introduced a review of the Free SHS policy, with critics fearing the program might be discontinued.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah insisted that the current meals served to students represent progress in the feeding initiative. She explained that students had previously complained about being offered "rice with colored water," but the situation has since improved. Now, the meals include ingredients such as tomatoes for stew preparation and eggs.

She also highlighted the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the nutritional value of the food available to students. The Deputy Minister noted that students themselves are expressing satisfaction with the meals, with some sharing photos of the food served in their schools on social media. She emphasized that these positive comments come directly from the students, not from President Mahama or the ruling National Democratic Congress, suggesting that their firsthand experiences reflect the true state of the program.