Government’s intervention to feed final year students and staff of Junior High Schools across the country has generated mixed reactions from Ghanaians.
While a section of Ghanaians commend the President for the initiative, others have raised concerns over financial implications and possible abuse of the intervention to the personal benefits of some government appointees.
President Nana Akufo-Addo during his 15th address on Sunday August 16, 2020 to the nation on the fight against COVID-19 disclosed that “As a result of reports I have received that some final year JHS students are going hungry in complying with COVID-19 protocols, I have just instructed the Minister for Gender and Social Protection to begin preparation to ensure that as from 24th August up to 18th of September, all 584,000 final year JHS students and 146,000 staff both in public and private schools be given one hot meal a day. This is to ensure full observation to COVID-19 safety protocols.”
The announcement by the President has been met with mixed reactions especially following a previous intervention that government announced had amounted to some 54.3 million cedis.
It will be recalled that finance minister Ken Ofori Atta told parliament during a mid year budget review that government through the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection had expended over 50 million cedis to cater for some targeted vulnerable groups during the lockdown.
Some Ghanaians who have been reacting to the intended initiative have been expressing concerns on social and mass media.
See some reactions captured below:
