The non-governmental organization with a focus on the pursuit of good governance, SEND Ghana, is mounting pressure on the government to increase feeding grants for Caterers of the School Feeding Programme following a chaotic relationship between government and caterers which has led to a strike by the caterers.
In a statement, SEND Ghana said the School Feeding Caterers’ demand for an increment in feeding grants was a legitimate concern.
“SEND has also taken notice of the ongoing negotiation between the leadership of the National School Feeding Caterers Association and the government as part of the effort to address the impasse. We are glad that the school feeding caterers have decided to rescind their decision to embark on an indefinite strike as the government continues to engage with them on their demands,” SEND stated.
SEND believes the cascading effect of such strike actions, if carried out by the caterers, would have been dire!,”
Members of the School Feeding Caterers Association have been on strike since Monday, May 17th, 2022 over inadequate feeding grants from the government to cover the cost of feeding students.
They have vowed not to cook until the government increases the feeding grant from GH¢0.97 to GH¢3 per child.
The caterers have since had a number of meetings with the school feeding Secretariat but they have all ended in no solution.
According to SEND GHANA, the grievances of the caterers are justified and resonate with the sentiments of many Ghanaians.
SEND GHANA also said it has consistently called for an upward review of the feeding amount drawing evidence from its annual Budget Forums and assessment of government budget statements and economic policies.