Minister threatens to revoke SHS heads food procurement role

Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu has warned heads of senior high schools across Ghana that he will revoke the recently introduced direct food procurement policy if they fail to guarantee the quality and timeliness of meals served to students.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Minister expressed deep concern over reports from multiple regions of poor-quality meals and disruptions in food supply, which he said threaten both student welfare and the smooth running of the academic calendar.
The policy, which decentralised procurement from the Ghana Buffer Stock Company and Ghana Commodity Exchange, was intended to address persistent shortages and delays—but appears to be faltering in execution.
“This policy was designed to give headmasters the flexibility to source fresh, nutritious food on time,” Mr. Iddrisu said.
“But if school authorities cannot ensure the quality and consistency our children deserve, I will have no choice but to withdraw this discretion and revert to the former system.”

Decentralisation under scrutiny
The direct-purchase policy, introduced as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s education reforms, was accompanied by increased feeding grants and the aim of improving delivery through greater autonomy.
However, Mr. Iddrisu said some schools had instead used their new purchasing powers to engage unqualified suppliers, resulting in meals that fall short of basic nutritional and hygiene standards.
“We cannot allow our young people to suffer because of poor implementation,” he stated.
“Heads of schools must be held accountable for the welfare of their students. If the feeding programme falters, so too will our efforts to maintain a smooth academic calendar.”

GES oversight intensifies
To curb the lapses, the Minister announced that regional directors and inspectors from the Ghana Education Service (GES) would be dispatched immediately to investigate breaches in procurement practices.
Schools found to have flouted the rules would face contract cancellations and a return to centralised purchasing under direct GES control.
He added that headmasters must ensure every meal meets ministry-approved nutritional and safety standards.
Procurement records and supplier qualifications will be audited, and any failure to comply will trigger an automatic reversion to the old system managed by the Buffer Stock Company and Ghana Commodity Exchange.

Mixed reactions from stakeholders

The Minister’s warning has drawn mixed reactions from education stakeholders.
While Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) welcomed the tough stance as necessary to safeguard students’ health, some school administrators warned that reversing the policy without adequate logistical backup could reignite the very shortages it was meant to solve.
Nutrition experts also weighed in, urging school heads to collaborate with certified caterers and local agribusinesses to ensure that meals are safe, nutritious, and locally sourced. “Decentralisation can work—but only with rigorous oversight and capacity building at the school level,” said a dietician with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
As schools prepare to reopen next week, all eyes are on school administrators to prove that the direct-purchase policy can work. Minister Iddrisu’s message is clear: headmasters will only retain their autonomy if they deliver results. The welfare of students, he stressed, remains non-negotiable.