Caterers on the School Feeding Programme (GSFP) will be paid their 70 days’ arrears by end of April, 2016.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur during a consultative meeting with stakeholders on the School Feeding Programme held in Accra Monday.
The meeting was aimed at improving and deepening the quality of School Feeding in Ghana. This will be done by fostering a stronger collaboration between the GSFP and its key partner, the Ghana Education Service.
Addressing stakeholders, Nana Oye Lithur revealed that funds had been secured to pay the 70 days of the First Term of 2015 / 2016 academic year and have cleared all outstanding payments for 2014/ 2015 academic year.
“I wish to use this opportunity to assure our valued caterers that the arrears for the 70 days would be released by the close of this month. We shall subsequently defray all debt for this current term (second term of 2015/2016 academic year)”
Mrs. Lithur intimated that Government led by H.E John Mahama envisions a national School Feeding Programme that boosts local economic development, agricultural productivity and poverty reduction.
“To this end, we have initiated sweeping reforms into the management of the GSFP since last year when the ministerial responsibility of the programme was moved from the Ministry of Local Government to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection”.
Nana Oye Lithur hinted that key among the reforms is the design o f a new Caterer contracting and procurement guidelines that will ensure transparency and compliance with national procurement guidelines.
Additionally, menu served to school children will now be based on the three geographical regions of the forest, savannah and coastal areas.
By: www.dailyviewgh.com
