The Ghana Education Service (GES) has granted approval for the procurement of essential food items at the school level to address feeding challenges in public Senior High Schools across the country.
In a directive issued on January 22, 2025, signed by Stephen Kwaku Owusu, Deputy Director-General, the GES instructed all Regional Directors to ensure that Heads of Schools take immediate steps to improve the feeding situation for students.
The measure, endorsed by the Office of the President, allows schools to procure food items to feed students for two weeks, covering the period from January 20 to February 3, 2025.
Funds for this initiative are to be disbursed based on student enrollment and the approved daily feeding cost of Seven Ghana Cedis Fifty Pesewas (GHS 7.50) for boarding schools and Three Ghana Cedis (GHS 3.00) for day students. Heads of Day Schools are encouraged to engage private caterers to provide hot meals for students at the approved rate.
The directive emphasized strict adherence to public procurement and financial management regulations in executing this mandate. Heads of Schools have been urged to procure food locally to ensure the timely delivery of supplies.
Regional Directors have been tasked with communicating the directive to all relevant institutions, including Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools, and STEM schools, to guarantee compliance.
The GES expects all Heads of Schools to follow the guidelines provided to ensure the effective implementation of this interim measure.
