School Selection and Local Food Production in Ghana’s School Feeding Programme

Abstract

School feeding programmes have been touted to improve school enrolment and physical development of children in poorer communities, but discussions on school selection criteria and linkages to local food production have been very minimal. This article discuss-es school selection and local food production under Ghana’s feeding programme. Findings show that school selection has been very problematic, motivated largely by political pa-tronage and financial gain, and not by the stated criteria of poverty and low enrolment. Local farmers have been registered in some districts to supply food to caterers, thereby helping to improve local food production. The article argues that feeding programmes ought to be designed to ensure that it reaches those who actually need it and to involve local actors in ways that promote mutual benefits.