The government has been urged to prioritise the modernisation of kitchens in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country, as many existing facilities pose serious health, safety and environmental risks.
The call was made during a ribbon-cutting and handover ceremony for a newly constructed kitchen facility donated to Kumasi Senior High School (KUHIS) in the Ashanti Region.
The smoke-free kitchen facility, valued at $85,000, was fully funded and executed by the school’s alumni based in North America under the group Mmeranteɛ North America.
The facility is equipped with electronic commercial food-holding cabinets, a commercial tilting steam-jacketed kettle and stainless-steel utility trolleys designed to improve efficiency, hygiene and safety in large-scale food preparation.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Prof. Chris Mensah-Bonsu, Coordinator of the Kitchen Project and Vice President of Mmeranteɛ Global, said while the government had invested significantly in classroom blocks, dormitories, libraries and internal roads in second-cycle institutions, similar attention had not been given to school kitchens.
“Government’s effort to build modern kitchens with ultra-modern equipment has not been encouraging. A lot of kitchens in various SHSs are in a bad state. This is a threat to the safety of kitchen staff, students and, by extension, the national economy,” he stated.
Prof. Mensah-Bonsu explained that many school cooks still rely on firewood, exposing them to smoke daily, which can lead to respiratory and eye-related health challenges. He added that the heavy reliance on manual labour also increases the risk of food contamination.
“With modern cooking equipment, we can improve food safety, reduce workload and protect the health of the people who feed our children every day,” he said.
Beyond health and safety concerns, he noted that outdated cooking methods also have environmental consequences.
“Providing schools with electronic commercial food-holding cabinets and other modern equipment will reduce dependence on firewood. That means fewer trees cut down and a real contribution to the fight against climate change,” he added.
He encouraged other alumni groups to emulate Mmeranteɛ North America and partner with the government to develop a national programme aimed at upgrading SHS kitchens.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Mmeranteɛ North America, Larry Osei Koduah, urged school authorities, the patron and kitchen staff to ensure the proper maintenance and responsible use of the facility.
He said the kitchen was designed to serve generations of KUHIS students and stressed the importance of maintaining strict hygiene standards to protect the investment.
“We have trained the cooking staff and dining hall prefects on how to use these machines, and we will continue to monitor the facility and support the school where needed. However, the day-to-day care must come from the school,” he added.
School authorities described the donation as timely, especially with the increasing student population under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which has placed additional pressure on school feeding systems.
The Headmaster of Kumasi Senior High School, Benjamin Tawiah Twum, expressed appreciation to the donors and pledged to maintain the facility to ensure it benefits generations of students.
He, however, appealed to old students for further support, revealing that although the new kitchen meets modern standards, the school’s dining hall is in a poor state.
“We are very grateful for this ultra-modern kitchen. However, our dining hall is also in a bad state. I appeal to the old students to come to our aid and help renovate it so it befits the new kitchen and provides a conducive environment for our students,” Mr Twum said.
The handover adds to growing calls from education stakeholders for a comprehensive assessment and upgrade of feeding infrastructure in SHSs to match the expansion in access to secondary education.
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