Nearly 500,000 more children added to Ghana School Feeding Programme

The government has allocated GH¢1.982 billion to the Ghana School Feeding Programme for 2026 as the number of children covered rises above 4.5 million.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey said 4,527,636 schoolchildren were now receiving a hot meal each school day under the programme.

That represents an increase of 498,056 children, or about 12%, from the 4,029,580 beneficiaries recorded in 2024.

The feeding grant has also increased from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2 per child—a rise of 33%.

“The amount used to be GH¢1.50 and that has been increased to GH¢2,” Dr Lartey said.

The supplied information does not specify whether the GH¢2 rate is calculated per child for each school day or when the higher rate took effect.

Budget rises for third consecutive year

According to the minister, the School Feeding Programme’s allocation has increased from GH¢1.393 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025 and GH¢1.982 billion in 2026.

The latest allocation is GH¢194 million higher than the 2025 figure—an increase of nearly 11%.

Compared with 2024, the programme’s budget has grown by GH¢589 million, or about 42%.

Dr Lartey said the expansion demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving child nutrition and supporting school attendance and retention.

However, the source material does not provide data showing how the programme has affected attendance, retention or the nutritional condition of participating children.

Government says caterer arrears cleared

The minister said the government had cleared arrears owed to caterers from 2024 and had paid for the first and second terms of the 2025/26 academic year.

No figure was provided for the amount paid, and the supplied information does not indicate whether caterers are still owed money for any other period.

Caterers play a central role in preparing and distributing meals under the programme, meaning delayed payments can affect their ability to purchase food and maintain meal services.

More schools placed under monitoring

The government has also expanded monitoring under the programme from 4,419 schools in 2025 to 8,270 in 2026.

This means an additional 3,851 schools are being monitored, representing an increase of about 87%.

The minister said 20,171 caterers and head cooks had received training in practical nutrition standards.

Dr Lartey has previously said the government would not compromise on the quality and nutritional value of meals served to schoolchildren.