School feeding programme receives GH¢1.78bn as government increases grant per child

The government has increased funding for the National School Feeding Programme (NSFP), allocating GH¢1.78 billion in the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, up from GH¢1.2 billion in 2024.

Presenting the budget to Parliament on March 11, 2025, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced that the feeding grant per child has been raised from GH¢1.20 to GH¢1.60, citing rising food prices and the need to sustain the programme.

“This increase is necessary to sustain the programme and ensure that pupils in public basic schools continue to receive nutritious meals,” Dr Forson stated.

He assured Parliament that the government would prioritise timely payments to caterers to prevent disruptions to the programme.

The school feeding programme, which provides free meals to over 3.8 million pupils, is a major social intervention aimed at improving school enrolment and attendance.

“The government remains committed to strengthening this programme as part of broader efforts to improve education and child nutrition in Ghana,” Dr Forson said.

Parliament is expected to debate the allocation, with discussions likely to focus on payment timelines, the sufficiency of the increased grant, and how to ensure quality meals for pupils.