School feeding programme now reaches over 4.2 million pupils nationwide — Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant expansion of Ghana’s School Feeding Programme, revealing that the initiative now benefits more than 4.2 million pupils across the country.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, President Mahama said the programme remains a key social protection intervention aimed at improving child nutrition, school attendance, and educational outcomes.
“Our government will continue to ensure the welfare and protection of children’s rights,” President Mahama said. “The school feeding programme is not just about providing meals; it is about investing in the future of our children and supporting their education.”
The President disclosed that the programme currently operates in over 12,000 public schools across all 261 districts in Ghana, providing employment opportunities for thousands of caterers and food service workers.
“The number of beneficiaries under the school feeding programme has increased significantly, reaching more than 4.2 million pupils in the 2024/2025 academic year,” he stated. “This programme is also providing gainful employment to about 34,000 caterers and cooks nationwide.”
President Mahama explained that the expansion of the programme forms part of government’s broader social protection agenda, which includes poverty reduction strategies and support for vulnerable households.
He added that the intervention has helped improve school attendance, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities where access to daily meals can influence parents’ decisions to send children to school.
“No child should be deprived of education because of hunger or economic hardship,” he said. “Our social protection programmes are designed to ensure equal opportunities for all Ghanaian children.”
He mentioned that, the programme will continue to receive support through increased budgetary allocations and improved monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency and efficiency in service delivery.
Education policy analysts have welcomed the expansion, noting that sustained implementation and proper supervision will be essential to maintain quality standards in food delivery and nutritional value.
President Mahama reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s education and social protection systems to support long-term national development.
