The Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), a prominent advocacy organization, dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Ghana School Feeding Program.
This urgent call follows recent revelations by Sarah Adwoa Safo, the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, highlighting potential mismanagement and irregularities within the program.
The Ghana School Feeding Program, which aims to provide one nutritious meal per day to schoolchildren, plays a critical role in enhancing educational outcomes and supporting local agriculture.
However, allegations of financial misappropriations, irregularities in food supply contracts and inadequate oversight mechanisms have raised the concerns about the program’s integrity and effectiveness.
Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Chief Executive Officer of GLOMEF, said in a press release copied to The Chronicle in Sunyani that, “The school feeding program is vital for the health and education of our children.
“It is imperative that these allegations are thoroughly investigated to ensure that the program operates transparently and efficiently, fulfilling its mission to support the development of Ghana’s future generations.”
GLOMEF urged President Mahama to take immediate action by commissioning a full-scale investigation into the program.
The organisation believes that a transparent inquiry is essential to identify any malpractices, hold accountable those responsible and implement necessary reforms to restore public confidence in this crucial initiative.
The call for an investigation has received widespread support from various stakeholders, including parents, educators, and civil society organisations.
The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) and the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) have also expressed their support for a thorough audit to ensure the effective use of resources allocated to the program.
As an organisation committed to advocating for social justice and good governance, GLOMEF stands ready to support efforts to enhance the transparency and accountability of the Ghana School Feeding Program.
The foundation believes that addressing these concerns is essential for safeguarding the well-being of Ghanaian children and ensuring the program’s long-term success.
Program plagued by rot
The former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Adwoa Safo, has been alleging widespread corruption and mismanagement within Ghana’s school feeding programme, which provides meals to students in public schools.
School snack program
Speaking on Wontumi TV on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 the former Dome/Kwabenya Member of Parliament urged the government of President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise reforms in the sector, warning that unchecked corruption is draining resources and undermining the programme’s effectiveness.
Recounting her tenure, Adwoa Safo revealed that former President Nana Akufo-Addo had instructed her to audit the school feeding programme before releasing funds for her ministry.
However, she claimed that after submitting the audit report to the then Cabinet, the President distanced himself from the directive, due to pressure from individuals within the government.
“The rot and the corruption that is going on at the school feeding sector is serious. This government should pay attention to that sector.
“Former President John Agyekum Kufuor had a great vision around the school feeding programme, but the way it has been twisted is a serious matter,” she said.
She further detailed challenges she faced in her attempt to investigate financial mismanagement in the programme.
“When I was appointed as the Gender Minister, President Akufo-Addo asked me to conduct an audit of the school feeding programme before I would be given funds to operate. What was all the money allocated to the programme being used for? I would call this woman – a key official in the programme – once, twice, even three times and she wouldn’t respond. Instead, she would send a message saying she wasn’t happy with how I was handling her because she had connections in the government and at higher authorities,” she alleged.
Adwoa Safo claimed that the majority of the financial irregularities were traced to the Central Region. She also accused members of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration of trying to cover up the corruption, adding that her audit report was dismissed by the President.
“The majority of the rot was coming from the Central Region. The backlash that followed my submission of the audit report made President Akufo-Addo deny that he had asked me to conduct it. He told me to set it aside, and that’s where my problems began,” she stated.
Her revelations have reignited calls for transparency and accountability in the administration of the school feeding programme, which has faced persistent scrutiny over financial mismanagement and operational inefficiencies.
