The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) stands as a critical intervention, aiming to combat malnutrition and bolster school attendance, particularly in the nation’s most deprived regions. Yet, recent scrutiny from Eduwatch Africa casts a shadow on the program’s efficacy, revealing systemic challenges that demand urgent and comprehensive reform. The very future of the GSFP, and the well-being of the vulnerable students it serves, hinges on addressing these issues head-on. The problems surrounding the Ghana School Feeding Programme were brought to light in a statement released by Eduwatch Africa on May 18, 2025.

Imagine a classroom, usually bustling with eager children ready for a day of learning, now sparsely populated. The absence isn’t due to illness or holiday, but a more fundamental need: hunger. This is the stark reality in some Ghanaian schools, a consequence, Eduwatch argues, of the abrupt termination of catering contracts within the GSFP.

Eduwatch’s statement highlights a confluence of problems, from the timing of contract terminations to discrepancies in beneficiary numbers, all compounded by weak monitoring and unequal distribution. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, one that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and, above all, the needs of the children who depend on the Ghana School Feeding Programme for their daily sustenance.

One of the most immediate concerns raised by Eduwatch is the timing of the catering contract terminations. On May 2nd, just before schools were set to reopen, all catering contracts were terminated. This decision, Eduwatch argues, had a direct and detrimental impact on school attendance.

“The GSFP is a major source of nutrition and has improved retention in many schools, especially in deprived areas. Terminating contracts of caterers ahead of school reopening has negatively affected school attendance,” Eduwatch stated. To mitigate future disruptions, Eduwatch suggests re-contracting should occur during the long vacation (July-September) to avoid academic calendar disruptions. The absence of readily available meals, a key incentive for attendance, led to empty desks and diminished learning opportunities. This disruption highlights a critical flaw in the program’s management: a disconnect between administrative decisions and the realities on the ground.

Beyond the timing of contracts, Eduwatch raises serious questions about the accuracy of beneficiary numbers. Conflicting figures paint a confusing picture of the program’s reach. The government reported 4 million beneficiaries in June 2024, a number that supposedly rose to 4.2 million in the 2025 Budget Statement. However, Eduwatch contends that these figures do not align with the reality experienced by caterers and students. “This does not support the evidence on the ground, as the number of pupils being fed daily continues to decline,” according to Eduwatch.

If caterers are abandoning their posts due to unpaid debts, how can the number of beneficiaries be increasing? The discrepancy raises concerns about potential enrolment padding or inaccurate data collection, issues that undermine the program’s credibility and effectiveness.

The financial viability of caterers is another area of concern. Eduwatch questions their ability to pre-finance contracts while simultaneously maintaining the quality of meals. The Auditor-General’s report further highlights this issue. The consistent delivery of quality meals is essential for programme efficiency, but is frequently overlooked.

Weak monitoring and accountability systems are identified as a significant challenge. This lack of oversight creates opportunities for abuse and undermines the program’s integrity. Issues such as enrolment padding, poor food quality, and non-compliance with feeding guidelines persist, eroding public trust and hindering the program’s ability to achieve its goals.

The consequences of weak monitoring are far-reaching. The Auditor-General’s report revealed over GHC 2.5 million in wrongful payments in September 2023, and the recovery of these funds remains unclear. This lack of accountability not only drains resources but also sends a message that fraudulent practices will go unpunished.

Even if these systemic issues are addressed, the GSFP’s reach remains uneven. Disparities in program coverage across districts highlight a fundamental inequity in the program’s design and implementation. Ga West, a relatively less deprived district, boasts 92% coverage, while Tatale-Sanguli, one of the most deprived, languishes at a mere 17%. Eduwatch asserts this undermines the government’s commitment to equity, as it directly opposes the goal of the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

This unequal distribution contradicts the very purpose of the GSFP, which is to prioritize the most vulnerable children. How can the program claim to be addressing inequality when its benefits are disproportionately concentrated in less needy areas?

In light of these challenges, Eduwatch has put forward a series of recommendations for GSFP reform. These recommendations are designed to address the systemic weaknesses that plague the program and ensure that it effectively serves its intended beneficiaries. These include expediting decentralized procurement and contract management, auditing current beneficiary data, implementing a digital tracking system to monitor delivery, holding a national forum to seek stakeholder input on reform strategies, incorporating implementation funds into local government budgets, ensuring full rollout of a digital invoicing system, reviewing selection criteria for district-level beneficiaries using the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index, working with Ministries of Finance and Local Government to ensure timely disbursement of funds, and recovering all wrongful and excess payments made to caterers.

Eduwatch Africa’s call for reform serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need to address critical challenges within the Ghana School Feeding Programme. By implementing the proposed recommendations – improving accountability, ensuring equitable distribution, and strengthening financial oversight – the GSFP can more effectively fulfill its mandate of providing nutrition and supporting education for vulnerable children across Ghana. Failure to act decisively risks undermining the program’s positive impact and hindering progress towards national development goals.

The future of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and the well-being of countless Ghanaian children, depends on a commitment to transparency, accountability, and a genuine desire to build a more equitable and effective system. Stakeholder engagement is crucial to making sure this program is viable.