We aim to extend school feeding to private schools – Naa Momo Lartey

The Minister-designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has vowed to resolve ongoing payment delays under the government’s school feeding program, emphasizing her commitment to dialogue and sustainable solutions.

Speaking during her vetting by the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, Naa Momo Lartey highlighted the importance of the program in supporting education and nutrition for schoolchildren.

She expressed determination to address bottlenecks that have frustrated caterers and stakeholders for months.

“Our manifesto clearly outlines our goal to address the bottlenecks in school feeding and capitation grants. We even aim to extend the program to private schools,” she disclosed.

The school feeding program, introduced to enhance education and nutrition among Ghanaian schoolchildren, has faced significant challenges, including delayed payments to caterers and concerns over the quality of meals.

These delays have often led to disruptions in service, with some caterers threatening strikes or withdrawing their services altogether.

Naa Momo Lartey acknowledged the extent of the arrears and the need for prompt action. “From my checks, about 40 days of payments have been made, but 31 days remain in arrears. This is something I am committed to resolving,” she assured.

She further underscored her leadership approach, emphasizing collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the program runs smoothly and efficiently.

“One of my strengths is fostering dialogue with all involved to achieve sustainable outcomes. With payments already initiated, I am confident that the president is committed to not only maintaining the program but also ensuring the quality of food is upheld,” she added.

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