SEND Ghana is mounting pressure on Government to increase feeding grants for Caterers of the School Feeding Programme.
Members of the School Feeding Caterers Association threatened to go on strike effective Monday, May 16, 2022.
According to them, the school feeding grant was inadequate, hence threatened to boycott cooking services.
They vowed not to cook until government increases the feeding grant from GH¢0.97 to GH¢3 per child.
Although the officials at the school feeding secretariat had a meeting with the caterers over their intended strike, they said nothing good came out of the meeting.
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In a statement, SEND Ghana said the School Feeding Caterers’ demand for 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 believes the cascading effect of such strike actions, if carried out by the caterers, would have been dire!,” it stated.
SEND GHANA contended that the grievances of the caterers are justified and resonate with the sentiments of many Ghanaians.
It noted that even the school feeding secretariat in recent years, have asked government to increase the grant amount allocation.
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.
“The school feeding programme holds a greater potential to accelerate Ghana’s progress towards the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals on hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.
it is, therefore, critical that government and stakeholders prioritize addressing issues affecting the efficient implementation of the programme while instituting sustainable measures to avert the possible recurrence of the same in the future,” it added.
“SEND GHANA respectfully urge the government to heed the legitimate calls to address the grievances of the caterers in the interest and welfare of the over 3 million school children who rely on the school feeding to be able to stay in school,” SEND Ghana stated.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori