Naa Momo Lartey Promises to Resolve School Feeding Program Payment Delays

Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the minister-designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, has assured Ghanaians that she will address the payment delays faced by caterers under the government’s school feeding program.

During her vetting by the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, Naa Momo acknowledged growing concerns over unpaid arrears and the quality of meals served to schoolchildren. She pledged to resolve these challenges and ensure that the program runs smoothly.

“Our manifesto clearly outlines our goal to address the bottlenecks in school feeding and capitation grants. We even aim to extend the program to private schools,” Naa Momo said.

She revealed that payments for 40 days had been made, but 31 days remained in arrears. “This is something I am committed to resolving,” she emphasised.

The minister-designate also highlighted her collaborative approach to problem-solving, noting that she would engage stakeholders in open dialogue to find sustainable solutions. In addition, she underscored the importance of maintaining high food quality standards for the program.

“One of my strengths is fostering dialogue with all involved to achieve sustainable outcomes. With payments already initiated, I am confident that the president is committed to not only maintaining the program but also ensuring the quality of food is upheld,” Naa Momo concluded.