The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) has launched a nationwide practical training initiative for caterers and head cooks serving beneficiary basic schools, aimed at improving the quality and safety of meals provided to pupils.
The capacity-building programme, covering all 16 regions, seeks to enhance hygiene and food safety standards while strengthening caterers’ understanding of nutrition and appropriate meal preparation. Officials say the initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure that meals served under the programme support pupils’ health, growth and learning outcomes.
The training is being implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and the Women in Agricultural Development Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Participants are being introduced to modern cooking techniques, safe food-handling practices and improved methods of meal planning to ensure food served is both nutritious and wholesome.
To promote effective implementation and wider reach, the programme has been decentralized into three zones — the Southern, Middle and Northern belts. This approach is expected to make the training more accessible to caterers across the country.
The nationwide exercise began on Dec. 15, with sessions currently underway in the Bono, Volta and Oti regions. According to programme officials, additional regions will be covered in subsequent phases as the initiative expands.
The GSFP says the training underscores its commitment to improving meal standards and safeguarding the well-being of pupils who rely on the school feeding programme nationwide