The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced that no additional schools will be added to the Ghana School Feeding Programme in 2026 due to financial constraints under the current budget allocation.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, she explained that although government remains committed to strengthening and expanding the programme in the long term, the 2026 appropriation did not provide the financial clearance needed for expansion this year.
“There is a long-term policy commitment to progressively strengthen and expand the programme within available resources. However, under the 2026 appropriation, the programme did not receive financial clearance for further expansion to cover additional schools at this time,” she told the House.
The Minister’s comments were in response to questions from Members of Parliament on government plans to scale up the School Feeding Programme, which provides daily meals to pupils in selected public basic schools across the country.
Despite the limitation, Mrs Lartey assured Parliament that the ministry is engaging stakeholders and development partners to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the programme, while exploring future expansion opportunities.
“Notwithstanding this constraint, the ministry continues to engage relevant stakeholders and development partners to improve the sustainability and operational efficiency of the programme while exploring opportunities for future expansion,” she said.
She further assured that Parliament would be informed once resources become available and approval is granted for any expansion of the initiative.
Mrs Lartey also expressed optimism that the situation could change in future, citing President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to expanding social intervention programmes.
According to her, the President has indicated his desire to see the School Feeding Programme expanded, alongside the ongoing expansion of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
“His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has indicated his desire to see expansion in this regard. If you look across the country, we are equally expanding LEAP. I am very certain that the President, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will keep their word, and then we will see some expansion,” she stated.
However, she stressed that there is no immediate prospect of expansion this year.
“But for this year, there is no possibility of expansion,” she emphasised.
The Ghana School Feeding Programme remains one of government’s flagship social intervention initiatives aimed at improving school enrolment, attendance, and retention, while also supporting local food production.
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