Caterers found serving substandard meals under the Ghana School Feeding Programme risk having their contracts terminated as the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection steps up monitoring and enforcement measures.

The programme has faced criticism in recent years over concerns about the quality and nutritional value of meals provided to pupils in some beneficiary schools across the country.

Addressing Parliament, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, acknowledged that monitoring and inspection exercises had identified instances where some caterers failed to meet the required standards.

According to the Minister, the Ministry has taken disciplinary action against offending caterers, including issuing warnings, suspending contracts and terminating agreements with service providers who repeatedly breached programme guidelines.

Dr Lartey said the measures form part of efforts to ensure that pupils enrolled on the programme receive meals that meet the required quality and nutritional standards.

The Minister also responded to questions on streetism, outlining government interventions aimed at addressing the growing phenomenon and improving the welfare of vulnerable children.

Meanwhile, Dr Lartey disclosed that there is currently no financial clearance to expand the School Feeding Programme to additional schools.

She explained that although there is increasing demand for more schools to be included in the programme, government must first secure adequate funding to sustain existing beneficiaries before considering any expansion.