GES releases critical funds for perishable food procurement

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially approved the release of long-awaited funds earmarked for the procurement of perishable food items for Senior High Schools and Technical Schools (SHTS) across the country, in a move aimed at stabilising the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) feeding programme.

The announcement, contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, is expected to resolve recent logistical challenges that have disrupted the supply of essential food items in schools, particularly perishables such as vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs.

In recent weeks, several school administrators have reported difficulties in sourcing fresh food due to fluctuating market prices, supply chain constraints, and delayed funding. These challenges have placed added pressure on headteachers and school managers responsible for ensuring daily student meals under the Free SHS policy.

According to the statement signed by the Head of Public Relations at GES, Daniel Fenyi, the Service has already activated the necessary administrative processes to ensure the swift and equitable disbursement of the funds to all beneficiary schools.

The financial support is expected to strengthen the feeding system in second-cycle institutions, which have in recent months faced mounting concerns raised by stakeholders, including the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), over inadequate and delayed feeding grants.

GES noted that the injection of funds is aimed at ensuring continuity in students’ nutrition, improving welfare conditions, and maintaining stability within the school system despite prevailing economic pressures.

However, the Service stressed that the release comes with strict accountability measures. It emphasised that the funds must be used exclusively for their intended purpose, warning against any diversion or misapplication at the institutional level.

“Strict monitoring and accountability mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the funds are used judiciously,” the statement indicated, adding that regional education directorates and auditors will closely track expenditure across schools.

The GES further explained that this intervention is intended to reduce tensions between school authorities and the Ministry of Education by giving schools the financial flexibility to procure perishable items directly from local suppliers. This approach, it noted, is expected to improve efficiency in food distribution and reduce delays that have previously affected meal preparation.

Education stakeholders have described the move as a timely step toward stabilising the feeding component of the Free SHS programme, which has faced periodic disruptions since its implementation.

The Service also reassured parents, guardians, and the general public of its continued commitment to safeguarding student welfare and improving the overall quality of education delivery in Ghana.

With the funds now being rolled out, attention is shifting to how effectively schools will manage procurement and whether the new oversight measures will prevent past challenges from recurring. Authorities have expressed optimism that the intervention will restore consistency in school feeding and ensure that no student’s learning experience is compromised due to nutritional gaps.