The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly on the 18^th of July 2025 held an orientation program for the new caterers of the school feeding programme. This event was led by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Dr. Michael Mensah and the GSFP Focal Person, Dr. Abena Konama Adampah. The purpose of the meeting was to orient the ten (10) newly appointed Caterers.

During the program, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Dr. Michael Mensah addressed the appointed caterers and attendees. He expressed his deepest appreciation to them for their commitment to ensuring that school children receive nutritious meals to support their learning and overall well-being. He emphasized that the Ghana School Feeding Programme is a government initiative aimed to provide meals to Primary and Kindergarten pupils nationwide, with added objectives such as increasing enrollment, promoting food security, and providing employment in particular for women as caterers. He added, “Your work directly touches the lives of thousands of children, many of whom depend on these meals to stay in school, remain healthy, and perform well academically.”

Dr. Abena Konama Adampah,  the GSFP Focal Person also educated them on various ways to handle their kitchens, she said that they need to undergo some health checks and also make sure that the aim of the government is achieved. She further went on to say that caterers are not supposed to demand anything from the students else doing so can keep children out of school.

Again, the Municipal Nutrition Officer Ms. Mirabel Asomboya lectured them on – Nutrition & Menu Compliance; Food Safety &Hygiene Standards; Modalities for the Acquisition of Menu ingredients which covered areas such as safe kitchen operations, portion control, and safe eating environment. She again added that they need to be creative with their menu in terms of variety of food and take opportunity of seasonal food crops. Also, the Municipal Health Director Dr. Akua Boamah Addy added that Health Directorate would conduct inspections on their health status and Kitchen environment thus, defaulters would be sanctioned.

 The caterers were provided with updates of the program that will guide and strengthen the delivery of service under the school feeding programme in the municipality.

Source: Municipal Information Services Department