The Minister-designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has vowed to tackle the delayed payments to caterers under the government’s National School Feeding programme, which has led to growing concerns over the declining quality of meals served to schoolchildren.

Speaking at her vetting by the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Naa Momo assured that her ministry would prioritize clearing outstanding debts and enhancing the programme’s efficiency.

"Our manifesto clearly outlines our goal to resolve the bottlenecks in school feeding and capitation grants.

We even plan to extend the programme to private schools," she stated.

According to her, while payments covering approximately 40 days have been made, arrears for 31 days remain outstanding.

She pledged to work swiftly to resolve the issue.

Naa Momo emphasized that stakeholder engagement will be central to her strategy in addressing the challenges.

"One of my strengths is fostering dialogue with all involved to achieve lasting outcomes.

With payments already initiated, I am confident that the President is committed to not only sustaining the programme but also ensuring the quality of food is upheld," she affirmed.

She reiterated her dedication to improving the programme’s efficiency and ensuring that schoolchildren receive nutritious meals consistently.