Caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in the Ashanti Region have refuted a section of the Auditor-General’s recent report which revealed that unwholesome food was served to pupils.
The Auditor-General’s performance audit report on the School Feeding Programme disclosed that mouldy corn dough was used in some of the schools visited by a team to assess the progress and performance of the initiative.
It added that jollof rice and other dishes were also prepared without any protein, contrary to the requirements of the programme.
However, during a news conference in Kumasi on Friday, July 19, 2024, the caterers said that part of the report was inaccurate.
The caterers requested the Auditor-General to investigate again and correct the misinformation.
They, however, admitted to the inadequate quantity of food served to the pupils, citing the insufficient amount of money allocated to them per child.
“Although the amount involved per child is insufficient, the caterers are all mothers and will never and ever use unwholesome foodstuff to cook for the children because the caterers eat the same food including some of the teachers,” Dorothy Ofori Sarpong, the secretary of caterers association said.
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They also debunked rumours by the public that caterers have been stealing foodstuffs meant for the pupils.
“Some of the public are accusing the caterers of stealing the foodstuffs supplied by the government to cook for the children. We are setting the records straight that caterers do prefinance the cooking for the whole year. But the payment is done termly within the year by the School Feeding Secretariat under the Gender Ministry.
“The government does not supply any food items for the caterers to use in cooking for the children. Every school has been attached to a coordinator or coordinators who go around unannounced to inspect and taste the food,” the caterers explained.