Gender Minister assures of government commitment to improving quality of food under school feeding programme as the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection moves to strengthen nutrition, monitoring and accountability under the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, gave the assurance while answering questions on the floor of Parliament. She said government remains committed to making meals served to pupils healthier, safer and better aligned with approved nutritional standards.
According to the Minister, the Ghana School Feeding Programme has reviewed its regional menus to ensure that children receive more balanced meals. The review is expected to reflect food choices available in different parts of the country while improving the nutritional value of meals served in basic schools.
The School Feeding Programme remains one of Ghana’s major social protection interventions. It is designed to provide children in beneficiary public basic schools with at least one hot meal on school days, while also supporting school attendance, retention and local food supply chains. For many children, especially in deprived communities, the meal they receive at school can play an important role in their daily nutrition.
Regional menus reviewed for balanced meals
Dr Lartey told Parliament that the programme has reviewed its regional menus as part of efforts to improve meal quality. This is important because Ghana’s food culture differs from region to region, and school feeding menus must reflect both nutrition and local availability.
A well-planned regional menu can help caterers prepare meals that children are familiar with while still meeting basic nutritional needs. It also supports local farmers and food suppliers because ingredients can be sourced from nearby communities where possible.
The Minister indicated that the revised approach is meant to ensure children are not just fed, but are fed properly. This responds to concerns that some meals served under the programme have lacked adequate protein, variety or quality.
Soybean powder added to improve protein intake
One of the measures announced by the Ministry is the introduction of soybean powder into school meals. Soybean is widely recognised as an affordable source of plant-based protein and can be added to common meals without significantly increasing cost.
The Minister said soybean powder has been added to meals as a cost-effective way to improve protein content. This is expected to help children receive more balanced meals, especially in communities where animal protein may be expensive or less available.
Reports indicate that soybean powder can be included in traditional meals such as waakye, jollof rice, kenkey and soups. If properly handled and prepared, this can improve the nutritional value of meals without changing the basic food culture children are used to.
Digital monitoring tools introduced
Beyond nutrition, the Ministry says it is also improving how the programme is monitored. Dr Lartey disclosed that digital monitoring tools have been introduced to strengthen accountability and improve compliance with approved menus.
One of the tools being piloted is School Connect, a digital system supported by partners including the World Food Programme and the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The platform is designed to help monitor whether caterers are serving approved meals and whether the food provided meets the required standards.
This is a major part of the reform because monitoring has been one of the long-standing challenges of the School Feeding Programme. Without proper tracking, it becomes difficult to confirm whether caterers are serving meals regularly, whether the right quantity is being provided, and whether menu guidelines are being followed.
Digital systems can help reduce manual gaps, improve reporting and support faster responses when issues are identified.
School Meal Cards and caterer training
The Minister also mentioned the introduction of School Meal Cards and nationwide training for caterers. These measures are aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening food safety standards.
Caterers play a central role in the success of the programme. Even when good policies exist, poor preparation, weak hygiene practices or poor portion control can affect the quality of meals pupils receive. Training caterers helps ensure they understand nutrition, menu compliance, food safety and proper handling of ingredients.
School Meal Cards are also expected to support better tracking and verification at the school level. If well implemented, they can help improve transparency in meal delivery and reduce disputes over whether meals were served as planned.
Monitoring to ensure compliance
Dr Lartey said regular monitoring is being carried out to ensure caterers comply with programme guidelines. This monitoring is expected to take place at national, regional, district and school levels.
The Ministry’s renewed focus on monitoring comes at a time when public concern about the quality of school feeding meals remains high. Parents, teachers and community members have often called for stronger supervision to ensure the programme truly benefits children.
The government’s position is that quality must improve alongside access. Feeding more children is important, but the impact of the programme depends heavily on whether the meals are safe, nutritious and consistent.
Why school feeding quality matters
The quality of school meals affects more than hunger. Good nutrition supports concentration, learning, growth and general health. A child who comes to school hungry or eats a poor-quality meal may struggle to focus in class.
The programme also has broader benefits when managed well. It can support enrolment, encourage attendance, reduce pressure on poor households and create income for caterers, food suppliers and local farmers.
This is why the Minister’s assurance is significant. It suggests government is not only looking at the number of children being fed, but also the quality of what is being served.
Government’s next test
While the assurance is welcome, the real test will be implementation. Digital monitoring tools, revised menus and caterer training must translate into visible improvement in schools. Parents and teachers will expect meals that are regular, safe, well prepared and nutritionally balanced.
The Ministry will also need to ensure that caterers are paid on time, because delays in payment can affect meal quality and consistency. If caterers are under financial pressure, it becomes harder for them to buy quality ingredients and follow approved menus.
For now, Dr Lartey says government remains committed to improving service delivery and nutritional outcomes under the Ghana School Feeding Programme. If the reforms are sustained, they could help restore public confidence and make the programme more effective for school children across the country.
