President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the ongoing challenge of feeding students in secondary schools, a pressing issue exacerbated by the reopening of schools on January 10, as directed by the Ghana Education Service (GES).
The reopening date, which was contrary to the advice of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), has placed a significant strain on resources.
Speaking at the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service held after his swearing-in, President Mahama revealed that a temporary solution is being implemented to address the crisis. “As a stopgap measure, we have tasked the Chief of Staff to collaborate with the Ghana Education Service to allocate and evacuate food currently stored in warehouses in Tema,” he announced.
The food supplies in question, he noted, were imported by the outgoing administration as a contingency response to a drought that was expected to last. However, President Mahama emphasized the urgent need to redirect these resources to feed students and ensure uninterrupted education.
“In this emergency, we need to use some of that food to feed our students so that education can continue,” he stated, underscoring the importance of prioritizing the welfare of students amid the ongoing crisis.
The President’s remarks come amid growing concerns from stakeholders in the education sector about the sustainability of school operations without adequate provisions for food supplies. The directive to utilize the stored food is expected to provide temporary relief as authorities work toward a more permanent solution.
The National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service served as an occasion to seek divine guidance and express gratitude, while also addressing critical national issues, including the secondary school feeding challenge.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
