School Feeding Programs: Lifelines or Loopholes?

By Aisha

Savelugu, Northern Ghana — At 10:15 a.m., the clanging of metal pots echoes through the dusty courtyard of a rural primary school. It’s lunchtime, and a line of excited children snakes toward the open kitchen. For many of them, the plate of rice and beans they’re about to receive will be their only proper meal of the day.

“If there is no food at school, I don’t eat until evening,” says 8-year-old Rahama, holding her tin bowl with both hands.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), introduced in 2005, was designed to fight child hunger and boost school enrollment in underserved communities. Twenty years on, its impact is undeniable — but so are its challenges. At a time when food inflation and funding delays plague the country, the question remains: is the program still a lifeline, or has it become a loophole-riddled system?

The Idea: Food as Incentive

The logic behind school feeding is simple. If children are fed at school, they’re more likely to attend regularly, stay longer in class, and perform better academically.

“It’s an equity tool,” says Dr. Beatrice Mensah, an education policy researcher. “You’re not just feeding stomachs — you’re fueling minds and protecting futures.”

The GSFP targets public basic schools in deprived communities. As of 2023, it served over 3.4 million pupils in more than 10,000 schools across Ghana.

The Difference It Makes

In schools where the program is functional, the results are visible.

“Our attendance improved by 40% after the feeding started,” says Headmaster Clement Osei of a primary school in the Upper West Region. “Some children used to skip class to help on the farm or sell water. Now they come for the food.”

Parents, too, are grateful. “It saves me ₵5 every day,” says Amina, a mother of four. “That’s ₵100 a month. It’s not small money.”

The Supply Chain Challenge

But the program’s success is heavily dependent on logistics — and that’s where problems begin.

Caterers contracted to cook meals often complain about:

Delayed government payments (sometimes up to six months late)
Low per-child allocations (about ₵1.20 per meal as of 2023)
High food prices caused by inflation and market disruptions

“We’re told to provide nutritious meals, but the money isn’t enough,” says Janet Oduro, a caterer in the Bono Region. “Sometimes I use my own funds and hope the money comes later.”

This uncertainty leads some caterers to cut corners — serving smaller portions or lower-quality food.

Nutrition: What’s on the Plate?

The GSFP aims to meet basic dietary standards, including grains, protein, and vegetables. But site visits show that meals often lack variety and nutrition.

“Today it was plain rice and oil,” Rahama says. “No fish. No beans.”

A study by the University of Ghana in 2022 found that only 35% of GSFP meals met minimum nutritional standards.

Experts warn that while the program may fight hunger, it’s not always tackling malnutrition — a deeper issue with long-term cognitive and physical consequences.

Corruption and Ghost Schools

Another concern: mismanagement.

Auditor-General reports in recent years have cited instances of:

Ghost schools listed as feeding sites
Inflated student numbers to secure more funds
Politically-influenced contracts for caterers without competitive bidding

“This is a brilliant program, but it’s bleeding due to lack of transparency,” says anti-corruption advocate Kwame Boateng. “There must be monitoring, not just slogans.”

Teachers Caught in the Middle

Teachers often find themselves in an awkward position — expected to enforce the program without any formal oversight role.

“When food doesn’t arrive, the children blame us,” says teacher Lydia Mensim in Volta Region. “Some even cry. It’s heartbreaking.”

Others report classroom disruption when meals are delayed, or when fights break out during distribution.

Calls for Reform

Civil society groups and education experts have outlined several recommendations:

Timely payments to caterers
Review of per-child funding in line with inflation
Centralized food procurement to control quality and reduce corruption
Integration of local agriculture to supply ingredients and boost rural economies
Real-time monitoring tools using mobile apps or community scorecards

“The GSFP should be managed like a business with strong auditing,” says Dr. Mensah. “Feed the children — yes. But do it properly.”

Stories of Hope

Despite the challenges, the program continues to change lives.

At a school in East Gonja, 10-year-old Suleman, once malnourished and underweight, is now thriving.

“He’s the top of his class,” his teacher beams. “And he’s grown taller. All because he eats at school every day.”

Final Thought

In a country where hunger is both a health issue and a barrier to education, the Ghana School Feeding Programme remains one of the most important — and most scrutinized — social initiatives.

Done right, it’s a lifeline. Done wrong, it becomes a loophole — draining resources and failing the very children it was meant to help.

For kids like Rahama and Suleman, the difference between a future of opportunity and a cycle of poverty might just come down to what’s in a bowl at 10:15 a.m.