Kpare Residents Bemoan School Feeding Mismanagement, Call for Transparency

Residents of Kpare, a farming community in the Lambussie District, have raised serious concerns over the mismanagement of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) at the Kpare Basic School.

Parents and community leaders say the current feeding arrangement is depriving schoolchildren of timely, nutritious meals, affecting both their health and academic performance.

During a community engagement by Info Radio on July 14, 2025, frustrated parents criticized the decision to have meals prepared outside the community, in Lambussie, and transported to Kpare. According to them, the food often arrives late and in poor condition.

“The children are hungry and distracted during classes,” one parent said. “How can they learn when they haven’t eaten or are served cold, soggy food?”

Madam Natalia Ambolee, the NDC Women’s Organiser for the Kpare branch, alleged that the caterer responsible for the meals claimed to have been appointed by the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Lambussie.

“The feeding started this academic term, and the food is prepared outside the community. The caterer herself said the DCE asked her to be in charge,” Madam Ambolee told Info Radio.

She called for greater transparency in the selection of caterers and urged the district to involve local cooks who can prepare meals on-site, ensuring freshness and stimulating the local economy.

The GSFP guidelines emphasise on-site meal preparation as a best practice. Preparing food within the school premises allows for real-time supervision by school authorities and district monitors, ensuring adherence to approved menus, portion sizes, and sanitation standards.

It also minimises the risk of contamination during transportation and supports consistent nutritional assessments for policy improvements.

In response to the allegations, Lambussie District Chief Executive Ireneous Basingbie Naawulle refuted claims that he had handpicked the caterer. He assured the community that he would collaborate with the district’s School Feeding Programme Coordinator to address their concerns.

“We take the community’s concerns seriously,” Mr. Naawulle said. “We are committed to improving the program and ensuring our children are well-fed and ready to learn.”

The residents of Kpare continue to advocate for immediate changes to the feeding arrangement to safeguard the welfare of their children and restore trust in the programme.