Gov’t to Amend Procurement Law to Compel Purchase of Local Produce for School Feeding — Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to amend Ghana’s procurement laws to require institutions spending public funds to buy food from Ghanaian farmers.

According to him, government money must be used to support Ghanaian farmers and create jobs for Ghanaians.

“We are proposing changes to the procurement laws to require those spending public money to buy food from Ghanaian farmers. Government money must support Ghanaian farmers and create Ghanaian jobs,” he stated.

Dr Forson explained that a significant portion of the Free Senior High School budget goes into feeding.

“Ghana’s budget for free secondary education is approximately GH¢5 billion. Feeding is about half of this. Let me say about GH¢3 billion. Local farmers are complaining that there is a glut. Why can’t we use government purchasing power and procurement law to stop the importation of food to feed our school children?” he queried.

The Minister added that aside from the Free SHS feeding programme, the government also spends under the Ghana School Feeding Programme.

“Aside from Free SHS feeding, we also feed under the school feeding programme. Together, we spend GH¢5 billion every year. I think the time has come to use the procurement law to force those who are spending to buy from our farmers,” he said.

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