Govt Orders Nationwide Audit Over Poor Free SHS Meals, Vows to Improve Food Quality
Accra, Ghana - 21 June, 2025 - Ghana's government has launched an urgent nationwide audit of the school feeding program under the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative, amid concerns over the quality and quantity of meals being served to students. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current state of the program, citing disturbing reports and images of substandard food being served in schools.
The audit comes as the Ministry of Education reviews the decentralized feeding policy, which has been in place since the introduction of the Free SHS program. Under the proposed new framework, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) will oversee the supply of perishable food items, while the National Food Buffer Stock Company will handle grains and other non-perishable staples.
According to Minister Iddrisu, the government has released significant funding to support the program, with between GH₵500 million and GH₵600 million disbursed between December and June. However, despite the funding, the quality of food remains a pressing concern.
“It is not our wish to reverse the decentralisation decision – far from it,” he said. “Since my appointment as minister, and working closely with the Director-General of the Free SHS Secretariat, funds have been released directly to facilitate procurement.”
“Between December and yesterday, we have disbursed between GH₵500 million and GH₵600 million; just today, I am aware that GH₵203 million, GH₵208 million, and an additional GH₵100 million have been released.”
The Minister emphasized that the government is not looking to scrap decentralization entirely but is willing to make adjustments to improve outcomes. He revealed that up to 40% of perishable supplies will be handled by CHASS, while Buffer Stock and the Ghana Commodity Exchange will take responsibility for staples like rice, maize, and beans.
“Under the proposed new framework, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) will oversee the supply of perishable food items, while the National Food Buffer Stock Company will handle grains and other non-perishable staples,” Mr Iddrisu explained to journalists during a press briefing at the presidency.
The Ministry's Internal Audit Unit has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive nationwide review of the feeding program and presenting a detailed report. Discussions with CHASS are ongoing to ensure consensus on the way forward, with the Minister emphasizing the need for shared responsibility and improved outcomes.
“We are simply not satisfied with the quantity and quality of the food being provided,” he stated. “This is why we are re-engaging stakeholders and repositioning our approach to ensure shared responsibility. We remain in the consultation phase, but where necessary, we will reverse the policy.”
Source: Lead News Online
