Ghana School Feeding Programme Terminates All Caterer Contracts Nationwide
FANIS News | May 3, 2025
The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has announced the immediate termination of contracts for all caterers under its programme across the country. This decisive directive, issued in an official notice dated May 2, 2025, marks a significant shift in the government’s efforts to restructure the national school feeding initiative.
According to the notice signed by Hajia Fati Forgor, National Coordinator of the GSFP, “no existing caterer on the Programme should cook for the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year.” This implies that for the upcoming term, no meals are to be provided by the currently contracted caterers until further notice.
While the immediate cessation of contracts is likely to cause disruption, particularly for schoolchildren who rely on the programme for daily meals, the GSFP Secretariat has provided some reassurance to the affected caterers. It stated that “all outstanding arrears for the second term of the 2024/2025 academic year will be paid in due course,” addressing concerns about unpaid services.
The notice comes as part of a broader restructuring effort, with the Secretariat promising to announce new modalities for the recruitment of caterers for the Programme. The exact nature of the restructuring remains unclear, but stakeholders await further details on how the revised model will operate.
Implications of the Government’s Decision
The immediate termination of contracts under the GSFP will have wide-ranging implications:
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Disruption to Child Nutrition and Education: For many children, particularly in low-income communities, school meals are a critical source of daily nutrition. The abrupt end to food provision may impact attendance and concentration in schools.
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Economic Impact on Caterers: Thousands of caterers across the country, many of whom are women operating small-scale businesses, now face sudden unemployment and income loss.
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Uncertainty Around Programme Continuity: With the third term of the academic year approaching, there is uncertainty regarding when and how new caterers will be recruited, and whether the transition will be smooth enough to prevent further nutritional gaps among schoolchildren.
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Potential for Policy Reform: On a positive note, the restructuring hints at the government’s intention to improve service delivery, accountability, and perhaps nutritional standards within the Programme. This could pave the way for more efficient and equitable implementation in the future.
As a platform dedicated to nutrition and food system issues, FANIS urges policymakers to ensure transparency, timely communication, and adequate support to all affected stakeholders during this transition. Above all, the nutritional well-being of Ghana’s schoolchildren must remain a top priority.
