Ghana Government to Increase School Meal Cost to GH¢2 per Child

The Ghana government will raise the cost of school meals under the School Feeding Programme from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2, as announced by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. This constitutes a 33% increase and aims to improve nutrition for schoolchildren. The minister emphasized the need for an adjustment aligned with inflation and highlighted the program’s significant reach, benefiting 3.8 million children.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, has announced an increase in the cost per meal for children participating in the Ghana School Feeding Programme. This adjustment will raise the fee from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2, reflecting a 33% increase in the meal cost, a policy originally established by the previous Mahama administration.

While addressing the public on X Space, hosted by KalyJay and monitored by GhanaWeb Business, Dr. Forson stated, “Currently, the government of Ghana pays GH¢1.50 per child per day. Unfortunately, we all agree that this amount is too small and can’t even buy one egg.” He emphasized the intent to significantly improve the meal provision for children.

The minister further indicated a requirement to adjust the feeding fee in relation to inflation, asserting, “We intend to index this to inflation to determine what we can do. I think we intend to increase it to a minimum of GH¢2 per child, per day. I believe this will be a significant improvement from where we are.”

Previously, the meal cost was set at GH¢1, with the last increment raising it to GH¢1.20. The Ghana School Feeding Programme benefited approximately 3,801,491 children in 2023, with the initiative focused on providing nutritious meals to enhance school enrollment and combat malnutrition.

The Minister of Finance is anticipated to present the 2025 budget to Parliament on March 11, 2025, which will include further details regarding this adjustment to the meal costs.

In summary, the Ghanaian government has decided to increase the school meal cost under the School Feeding Programme from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2, addressing the need for sufficient nutrition among schoolchildren. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson highlighted that this increase represents a significant improvement, aiming to better serve the 3.8 million children benefiting from the program. The upcoming parliamentary budget presentation will provide additional insights into future financial adjustments related to this initiative.

Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com