President John Dramani Mahama has taken swift action to address the ongoing feeding crisis in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country by ordering the evacuation of food from Tema warehouses to the affected schools.
Speaking during a Christian National Thanksgiving Service at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), on Sunday, the President acknowledged the current challenges with feeding students and outlined immediate measures to mitigate the situation.
Emergency Response
“As we speak, we have a challenge currently with feeding students in secondary schools, as the Ghana Education Service (GES) insisted that schools reopen on January 3, contrary to the advice of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools for a postponement,” President Mahama stated.
He revealed that food imported by the previous government as part of a response to last year’s drought in Northern Ghana would be redistributed to SHSs to alleviate the crisis.
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“As a stopgap measure, I have asked the Chief of Staff to work with the GES to allocate and evacuate food that is currently held in warehouses in Tema,” he said.
The directive underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring students in boarding schools have access to adequate meals despite logistical and financial constraints.
Education Reform Agenda
In addition to the emergency intervention, President Mahama emphasized education as a critical pillar of his government’s reset agenda.
Plans are underway for a National Education Review Conference, aimed at addressing systemic challenges and forging a consensus on achieving quality education at all levels.
“This will help us forge a consensus on the way forward to achieve quality education,” he noted.
The President also highlighted infrastructure improvement, resource provision for teachers, and expanded access to technology for students as key priorities under the agenda.
Thanksgiving Service and Support
The Thanksgiving Service brought together leaders from various sectors, including government officials, members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), and prominent clergy from across the country.
Key attendees included Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, First Lady Lordina Mahama, NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Religious leaders such as Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, and Dr. Lawrence Tetteh also graced the occasion.
The event provided an opportunity for reflection and unity as the nation faces ongoing challenges, including in the education sector.
Looking Ahead
While the emergency food distribution offers immediate relief, stakeholders are calling for long-term solutions to address recurring issues in Ghana’s education system, particularly regarding funding and logistics for SHSs.
As the government rolls out its 120-day plan, the hope is that the upcoming National Education Review Conference will provide a platform to tackle these challenges and pave the way for sustainable reforms.
