Food Shortage In SHS Over- Minister

The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has assured that shortages of food in Senior High Schools (SHS) are a thing of the past.

Answering questions about Education before the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday, the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe Constituency said the challenge emerged from overwhelming demand over the capacity of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).

He told the House another supplier had been contracted to help NAFCO in that regard.

“Buffer Stock was the only supplier but after the numbers increased, they got overwhelmed. The government got another company called Ghana Commodity Exchange to work with Buffer Stock.”

According to him, the combined task by the two companies now ensures prompt and timely supply of food items to schools in the country.

Some second-cycle schools were challenged with a shortage of food last year and earlier this year. Some schools struggled to provide three-square meals for students, a situation that disrupted academic activities.

The President of the Conferences of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Rev. Father Steve Owusu Sekyere, confirmed schools do not have adequate food supply.

He said although Buffer Stock Company supplied some of the food items, essentials like oil, milk, and sugar were not supplied.

But at the time, the Ministry of Education refuted claims of shortage noting supply was rather delayed.