The National Secretariat of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has organized a two days’ training workshop for School Health and Education Programme Coordinators, District Nutrition Officers, District Desk Officers and District Agric Officers in Koforidua as part of its Regional Training of Trainers series.
The training is meant to equip the participants with the requisite knowledge on promoting Nutrition and Health for School aged children, Business and Financial Management Ethics (Book and Records Keeping), Food Safety Measures and Hygiene and Innovative ways of improving School Meals among others.
The trainers are required to also transfer the knowledge to the caterers under the Ghana School Feeding Programme in their respective districts.
Brainstorming session
The Deputy National Coordinator of the GSFP, Dr. Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah in welcoming the participants on behalf of the National Coordinator, Dr. Kwame Adu Nsiah charged them to take the training very seriously in order to get the right information to the caterers.
She said that the School feeding programme is very dear to the people of Ghana since it positively affects the educational, health and physical development of millions of deprived children in the country.
The National Operations Director of GSFP, Mrs. Doris Gaba in a PowerPoint presentation revealed how the programme has been tremendously increased from 1.6 million to almost 2.9 million beneficiaries in over 9,495 schools representing 62% coverage of deprived schools in Ghana.
She said that the target of the National Secretariat of the GSFP programme is to achieve a 100% coverage in the next few years to ensure that all children in deprived schools benefit from the School feeding programme.
The Programme Policy Officer of the World Food Programme (WFP), Madam Emma Anaman, Madam Gertrude Ananse Baiden, from Partnership for Child Development (PCD) and Madam Soteria Ntim-Adu of YEDENT gave presentations on various topics and also explained why their organisations are associated with the Ghana School Feeding Programme. Mr. Sylvester Ekpe, a Business and Financial Consultant also took the participants through business and financial management.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Samuel Nuertey Ayertey commended the officers of the GSFP for the initiative to ensure quality standards in the programme.
He also commended the Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for paying all arrears owed the caterers. “Now the Government as I am aware does not owe any caterer. Indeed this is a good move by Government to ensure that the Caterers have what it takes to cook for our little childrenâ€.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister therefore charged the caterers to also show their appreciation to the Government by working hard to ensure the school feeding programme succeeds.
Mr. Nuertey Ayertey was particularly happy about the way the caterers in the region have conducted themselves so well and ensured that the programme benefit more children in the region.
, December 17, 2019