Buffer Stock Company to Cease Food Procurement for Schools – Dr. Clement Apaak

January 16, 2025 bunchbase@gmail.com 0 Comments

Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has announced that the government will decentralize the procurement and supply of food items to secondary schools, a move that will see the National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited relinquish its role in this process.

Dr. Apaak, speaking during a government delegation’s tour of food warehouses in Tema, led by Akatsi North MP Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, revealed that the Ministry of Finance will soon release funds directly to school heads. This will enable them to procure food items independently from suppliers.

Decentralization Efforts Finalized

According to Dr. Apaak, this decision was reached following meetings between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).

“After meetings involving the Chief of Staff, CHASS, the Education Ministry, and the GES, based on appeals and concerns about potential food shortages in some of our schools, the government—through the Chief of Staff and on the orders of the President—is working with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education to release funds for schools to procure the food items they need,” Dr. Apaak disclosed in an interview with TV3 on January 16, 2025.

A Shift from the Status Quo

This initiative fulfills a promise made by former President John Dramani Mahama to decentralize the feeding arrangement for schools, moving away from the centralized model previously managed by the Buffer Stock Company.

“With this new arrangement, the National Food Buffer Stock Company or its affiliates will no longer be in charge of procuring and supplying food to schools,” Dr. Apaak confirmed.

The decentralization is expected to enhance efficiency, give school heads greater control over procurement processes, and ensure timely access to food supplies, addressing longstanding challenges with the previous system.

This change marks a significant shift in the administration of school feeding programs, signaling the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of students and the operational efficiency of secondary schools.