Ghana’s government allocates nearly GH¢2 billion for the 2026 School Feeding Programme, serving over 4.5 million pupils, as expansion efforts face fiscal constraints despite increasing participation and improved oversight.
Ghana’s government has set aside GH¢1.982 billion for the School Feeding Programme in 2026, as more than 4.5 million pupils now receive a hot meal each school day. Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Agnes Naa Momo Lartey said the programme is currently serving 4,527,636 children, up from 4,029,580 in 2024, in what officials present as a sign of its growing role in child welfare and school participation.
The funding increase continues a steady rise in the programme’s budget, from GH¢1.393 billion in 2024 to GH¢1.788 billion in 2025 and GH¢1.982 billion this year, according to the minister’s remarks and the 2026 Budget Statement. The feeding grant has also been lifted from GH¢1.50 to GH¢2 per child, while the government says it has cleared caterer arrears from 2024 and paid for the first and second terms of the 2025/26 academic year.
Officials say the programme is also under tighter oversight. Monitoring has been expanded from 4,419 schools in 2025 to 8,270 this year, and 20,171 caterers and head cooks have received practical nutrition training. The Ministry of Gender has said the training is intended to improve food safety, meal quality and the use of locally sourced produce, while maintaining the programme’s focus on nutritious meals for pupils.
There is, however, a limit to how far the scheme can grow this year. Reports from Parliament indicate that no financial clearance has been granted to add new schools in 2026, suggesting that expansion may be paused even as coverage remains high. The School Feeding Programme is still central to government efforts to boost attendance, retention and nutrition, but the latest budget shows that those ambitions are being pursued under tighter fiscal constraints.
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