Mr. Kwasi Kwarteng, the former spokesperson for the Education Ministry, asserts that the Akufo-Addo government allocated sufficient funds for feeding in Senior High Schools (SHSs) before their term ended. This statement is notable, especially considering the controversies regarding the funding of the free SHS policy.
He essentially claims that there was a plan in place to cover these costs. However, it’s important to recognize that concerns have been raised about how the policy was executed and financed.
In an interview on Adom FM, Mr. Kwarteng revealed that GH₵150 million was released for food supplies. Of that amount, GH₵100 million was allocated to suppliers, while GH₵50 million was directed to headteachers for purchasing food items. He mentioned that these funds were released last week, although he did not provide a specific date.
This information comes in response to an appeal from the Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) to parents and guardians to help address feeding challenges in SHSs. CHASS Secretary Primus Baro informed the media that some schools are currently rationing food, particularly in northern Ghana. He explained that food supplies are limited, especially in the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern regions, where oil is completely unavailable, and schools have access only to rice and some gari.
However, Mr. Kwarteng contested the depiction of a food shortage, suggesting that the directive for students to bring their own food might be a precautionary measure rather than an indication of a total shortage. He emphasized that the situation was not due to a lack of funding from the government but was instead a result of suppliers’ cautious behavior amid uncertainties regarding future payments from the incoming administration.
“When the new government has consistently suggested allowing headteachers to purchase their own food, it creates fear and panic among the suppliers,” Mr. Kwarteng explained. “There may be problems, but we should not characterize the situation as one that the previous government left in disarray. It is incorrect to say there was no food; the schools had food.”
