One Hot Meal A Day For JHS Students Starts Today . . . Gender Minister Explains Mechanism
The hot meal a day for all final year Junior High School Students and their teachers is starting today.
The Ministry for Gender and Social Protection says everything has been put in place to ensure that the directive which was announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo is followed.
It ma be recalled that the President while delivering his 15th national address on Ghana’s fight against COVID-19 said the hot meal will be distributed each day until the end of their exit exams in September 2020.
"As a result of reports I have recently received that some final years JHS students were going hungry in complying with the COVID-19 safety protocols, I have just instructed the Minister for Gender, Children and social protection to begin preparations to ensure that as from 24th August -18th September 584,000 students and 146,000 staff both in public and private schools be given one hot meal a day…this is to ensure full observance of the COVID-19 protocols," he indicated in his address.
The sector Minister, Madam Cynthia Mamle Morrison speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' said for the first day each student is being given Jollof rice and egg.
She said the directive has been given to the cooks to ensure that eggs are added to their menu every day.
"An egg a day is a must and the food is being served for 20 days," she indicated.
Other meals for the rest of the days will, however, differ from region to region.
Budget
The Gender Minister has meanwhile, stated that government is not giving out new money to fund this project.
According to her, the Ministry already has a budget for the year and that is what is being used to finance the one-hot-meal a day.
She further indicated that her ministry is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and other agencies to ensure equitable distribution and wholesome food production.
"There is a monitoring team set in place," she added, to ensuring that the exercise goes as planned.
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