In a statement, the Service explained that students were supposed to receive jollof rice with eggs for supper on the day in question. However, the caterer failed to supply the eggs as scheduled.

Despite this, school officials went ahead and served the meal, assuring students that the missing protein would be provided through extra portions at a later time.

GES described the decision as inappropriate, emphasizing that school management should have made alternative arrangements rather than serving an incomplete meal.

Investigators also found that the headmaster was not on campus at the time, having been granted permission by the Municipal Director of Education to be away. In addition, the school’s dining hall had been reserved that same day for a New Patriotic Party (NPP) programme in the constituency.

According to GES, a member of the party used the lapse in supervision to secretly record the scene and circulate the footage, which later went viral online.

The Service clarified that the episode was a one-off situation caused by weak oversight and does not represent the school’s normal feeding practices.

As part of the response, GES said disciplinary steps have been taken, and the Municipal Director of Education has been tasked temporarily to supervise feeding at the school.

GES further assured parents, students and the public that providing nutritious and adequate meals for learners remains a key priority for the Service.

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In a statement released on Friday, January 16, 2026, GES said its management was aware of the video and is treating the matter with urgency.

“Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has sighted a video circulating on social media about an alleged food situation at Savelugu Senior High School,” the statement read.

The Service emphasized that student feeding remains a top priority and warned that any form of mismanagement would not be tolerated.

“Management takes the quality of student feeding very seriously. Hence, it prioritises quality feeding and views mismanagement as a serious offence, as it compromises the government’s commitment to enhancing the feeding programme,” the statement noted.

According to GES, significant improvements have been made in school feeding arrangements across the country in recent years.

“Management acknowledges that the feeding of students has generally received a remarkable facelift, with an efficient collaboration between Buffer Stock and school heads,” it added.

Addressing public concerns, the Service assured parents and guardians that the situation at Savelugu SHS is an isolated case and does not reflect conditions in other schools.

“Management wishes to assure the public, especially parents, that the incident at Savelugu Senior High School is an isolated case and does not reflect the overall feeding status nationwide,” the statement said, adding that investigations into the matter have been initiated.

As part of efforts to prevent similar incidents, GES announced plans to strengthen supervision.

“In our continued commitment to ensuring quality feeding for students, the GES Monitoring Team will intensify its unannounced monitoring visits to schools,” the statement said.

The Service also urged school authorities to be proactive in reporting challenges related to feeding.

“Stakeholders, and school heads especially, are urged to promptly report any peculiar challenges they encounter to management for timely intervention,” the release added.

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The riot began after they accused school authorities of feeding them with expired milk and tin fish. The students also said the meals offered are very small for young adults of their kind.

The rampaging students pelted stones on the roof of the dining hall amidst chants like “we will not eat.”

Speaking to JoyNews, one of the students said the protest was bound to happen, adding that this is because of the myriad of challenges they are facing.

One of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the school currently has no electricity, making it difficult for them to study at night. He lamented that nothing has been done to address the situation.

He said meals offered them are poorly cooked and some have fallen sick after eating these meals. The student said several appeals to school authorities have failed, hence the riot.

“We are just pleading to the authorities and government to come to our aid and help us and give us the proper food that we are supposed to take for good health and good academic performance,” they noted.

The student said the riot was borne out of frustration and not because they are disobedient.

“We have been saying this even to the masters we’ve sat for general meetings with, and also SRC meetings, but we speak our problems but no response. That is what prompted us to get frustrated like this. It isn’t that we are disobedient, we are doing it to show that we are not happy with the way they are treating us,” they added.

The student added that he however did not agree with his colleagues who pelted stones.

“I just want them to address our grievances and provide us with the right food,” they emphasised.

Another raised similar concerns and added that their prayer has been restricted to three minutes. This, they said, is not fair.