Gender Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey Assesses School Feeding Quality Amidst Growing Concerns Over 94% Sanitation Deficit in Schools

The Ghanaian government is intensifying its focus on student welfare and school infrastructure as recent reports highlight both progress in nutritional support and critical gaps in basic sanitation. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, recently led a high-level monitoring exercise of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in Accra to ensure that nutritional standards are being strictly maintained. Simultaneously, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has raised an alarm over a staggering deficit in school sanitation facilities, revealing that the vast majority of educational institutions across the country lack basic toilet infrastructure.

During her visit to the Chorkor Presbyterian Basic School and Chemunaa Basic School, Dr. Lartey emphasized the School Feeding Programme's role as a vital social protection intervention under President John Mahama’s administration. The Minister, accompanied by an advisory board, conducted first-hand assessments of the meals served to students to verify their quality and nutritional value. Dr. Lartey noted that the GSFP is essential for improving school enrollment, attendance, and learning outcomes. She warned that the government would enforce strict accountability measures, stating that caterers who fail to comply with safety and quality standards will face immediate repercussions.

However, these efforts to improve student health through nutrition are facing a significant hurdle in the form of a nationwide sanitation crisis. Sebastian Fred Deh, a member of the Public Accounts Committee and MP for Kpando, disclosed that only 7,000 out of approximately 125,000 school infrastructure projects in Ghana currently include toilet facilities. This 94.5% deficit has been attributed to a historical lack of oversight by the Ghana Education Service (GES). The absence of proper facilities is particularly detrimental to adolescent girls, often leading to increased absenteeism during menstruation and exposing all students to heightened public health risks.

The juxtaposition of the GSFP monitoring and the PAC’s findings underscores the complex challenges facing Ghana's educational sector. While the government remains committed to strengthening social protection through school meals, the lack of basic WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities threatens to undermine these gains. Moving forward, the PAC has called for enhanced collaboration between the GES and local assemblies to ensure that all future school construction projects incorporate adequate sanitation. Addressing these infrastructure gaps remains a priority for the government as it strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 and provide a safe, conducive learning environment for every Ghanaian child.