POLITICISATION OF GSFP AFFECTS IMPLEMENTATION (PAGE 26)

PARTICIPANTS at a regional policy dialogue on the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in Tamale have bemoaned the politicisation of the programme , saying this has affected its smooth implementation over the years.
They observed that political interference made it almost impossible for the key implementing agencies to adhere strictly to the laid down procedures in programme implementation.
The participants were made up of representatives of non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and co-ordinating directors of district assemblies.
The dialogue was aimed among other objectives at promoting advocacy on the GSFP as well as to help broaden participants’ knowledge on the programme through information sharing.
SEND Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, organised the event.
The participants contended that the interference by some politicians largely accounted for the numerous challenges currently bedevilling its implementation.
“Let us try to down play the politics and rather involve the beneficiary communities and key implementors to do what is expected of them; politics is meant to help improve on the lives of the people and not to worsen their plight”, they further stressed.
They suggested for instance that the District Implementation Committees (DICs) and district emergency committees should be reviewed to enhance the effective implementation of the programme.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina in a speech read on his behalf, observed that the GSFP in the region had so far disbursed more than GH¢7.2 million to cater for 46,614 pupils.
He, however, stated that the region was targeted to cover 220,000 pupils by the close of 2010.
Mr Nayina explained that the national target was 1.2 million pupils by 2010, adding that so far 595,000 pupils were currently benefiting from the programme nationwide at a cost of GH¢65.7.
He said a number of strategies were being put in place to ensure the successful implementation of the GSFP.
They include the strengthening of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to boost production at the local level, the subsidisation of fertilisers to farmers and the formation of Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) to link farmers and marketers to the GSFP at the community level.
The Project Officer of SEND Ghana, Madam Diana Ndego stated that a survey conducted by her outfit within the last quarter of last year revealed numerous issues affecting the smooth implementation of the GSFP.
She said poor kitchen infrastructure in GSFP schools, inadequate water supply and storage facilities in beneficiary schools, majority of food procured from open markets instead of from beneficiary schools, were among the challenges facing its smooth implementation.
According to her, the report recommended among other things, the sensitisation of stakeholders, particularly community members, officials of collaborative decentralised directorates and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The Education Advisor of the Netherlands Development Co-operation (SNV), Ms Adama Jehanfo, said in 2006, the SNV carried out a research which revealed that similar issues identified by both participants and SEND Ghana needed to be addressed.