By Gloria Anderson
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dokoa Newman, has announced a major shift in the Ghana School Feeding Program, moving from a manual to an Information Management System (IMS) for the selection of caterers and other processes.
“The Ghana School Feeding Program will no longer operate manually. We are transitioning to an Information Management System that will manage the entire process, from caterer selection to data collection and payments. Everything will be managed online moving forward,” the Minister stated, emphasising the importance of this change.
Elaborating on the new system at a press briefing held in Accra, the Minister explained that interested caterers will now have to apply online and pay a non-refundable fee of GH¢ 200. Applicants will create profiles and complete their forms online. The Ministry plans to pilot this system in two constituencies—New Juaben South and Krachi East—before rolling it out across all 16 regions.
To qualify, caterers must demonstrate their ability to pre-finance operations, as payments are made after each term. A bank statement showing a balance of at least GH¢ 5,000, along with a health certificate and business permit, will be required. The selected caterers will serve for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic years.
“This online application process will help eliminate the challenges we face in selecting caterers for the School Feeding Program,” the Minister emphasised.
Turning to the Affirmative Action Bill, which was passed by Parliament on July 30, the Minister commended the legislature for its efforts. However, she clarified that the bill is yet to reach the President for assent due to some outstanding issues.
“The bill circulating on social media is not the final version. We have added a few more clauses and removed some due to constitutional concerns. I assure Ghanaians that the women of this country are qualified, and this is not about tokenism. The President will sign the bill into law once it is presented to him,” she assured.
The passage of the Affirmative Action Bill marks a significant step towards gender equality in Ghana, and the Minister expressed optimism that it would be signed into law soon.
These developments in the School Feeding Program and the Affirmative Action Bill highlight the government’s commitment to improving social protection and promoting gender equality in the country.
