Head of Nutrition at the World Food Programme (WFP), Patience Asiedu, has urged school feeding caterers to work within the GH¢1.20 daily amount per child to prepare nutritious meals for school children.
According to her, her outfit has tools to help caterers effectively use ingredients within the budgeted amount.
Speaking during a workshop to disseminate a landscape analysis report on rice fortification, she said, “This is an opportunity to improve the nutrient value of meals. Another thing is to use locally available nutritious foods. So, I am encouraging school caterers to work within the GH¢1.20 pesewas transfer to use fresh tomatoes, more vegetables, and fruits as much as possible.
“We also have tools that we use to support these caterers optimize their choices in terms of the selection of ingredients that will still work within the GH¢1.20 pesewas to improve the nutrient quality of school meals,” she added.
Meanwhile, caterers under the School Feeding Programme have rejected the proposed GH¢1.20 increment put forth by the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu.
According to the caterers, the amount is woefully insufficient and unacceptable.
The caterers went on strike in April 2023 over unpaid arrears.
They also demanded that the government raise the daily amount to GH¢3.50 per child.