Education Minister Urges GES Council to Guarantee High-Quality Meals for All Students
Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has issued a strong directive to the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council, urging them to take immediate steps to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality meals to students across the country. He expressed his displeasure over widespread reports of poor food standards in schools and warned of possible policy reversals if conditions do not improve.
The Minister made these remarks during the official swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed GES Council held in Accra. He emphasized that despite a policy decision rooted in the ruling National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) manifesto—which grants school heads the authority to independently manage food procurement—student welfare must take precedence.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, a recent report submitted to the President raised serious concerns about the nutritional quality and general condition of meals being served in several public schools. He criticized some school heads for their lax oversight, suggesting that they are failing to uphold their responsibility to the students under their care.
“It has been brought to both my attention and that of the President that many headmasters are not meeting acceptable standards in the food being provided to our students,” the Minister said. “This is unacceptable. If the situation does not improve, I will have no hesitation in recommending a reversal of the policy that currently gives headmasters control over food procurement, despite it being a manifesto commitment.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining high standards in both the quality and quantity of meals served, noting that nutrition directly affects student performance and well-being. To improve monitoring, the Minister proposed increased internal audits within schools and called for periodic, unannounced visits by top education officials, including the GES Director-General and Council members, to observe food preparation and service firsthand.
“I encourage the GES leadership to carry out surprise visits during meal times. This will give you a real sense of what our students are being fed,” he added.
In addition to food quality, the Minister expressed concern about rising levels of indiscipline and insecurity in schools. He referenced alarming incidents of students bringing dangerous weapons such as knives—and even reports of gun-related threats—onto school campuses.
“This trend of violence and indiscipline in our educational institutions is deeply troubling. Stories of weapons being found on campus are not just disturbing—they’re un-Ghanaian. We must act swiftly to restore order and safeguard our schools,” he urged.
The Minister tasked the newly inaugurated GES Council with taking bold steps to address these issues. He emphasized that protecting the safety of teachers and students must become a top priority and called for a more proactive and preventative approach.
Responding to the Minister’s charge, Professor Mawutor Avoke, Chairman of the GES Council, assured the Minister of their readiness to tackle the challenges facing Ghana’s education system. He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to restoring discipline, improving the quality of meals served, and enhancing safety across all schools.
Later in the day, Minister Iddrisu also presided over the inauguration of the Governing Council of the University of Education, Winneba. He acknowledged the institution’s legal and administrative challenges and urged the new Council to resolve ongoing disputes amicably, ideally outside the courtroom.
“I’m hopeful that under your leadership, the university will find lasting solutions to its legal troubles. Let’s pursue dialogue and compromise to bring stability to the institution,” he said. He also encouraged the Council to invest in strengthening the university’s sports and extracurricular programmes.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming the government’s support for both councils and urged them to implement their mandates with transparency, urgency, and a commitment to improving outcomes in the education sector.
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