Busunya (B/A), July 18, GNA – A concerned citizen has stated that the lack of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system on the Ghana School Feeding Programme, was hindering the identification of weaknesses and strengths in the programme.

Mr Christopher Sieh-Dapaah, Coordinating Director of Resource Link Foundation, a Non-Governmental Independent Civic Society Organization, was addressing a forum organised to share views with Zonal, Urban, Town and Area Council Committees at Busunya in Nkoranza North District.

The forum was to address issues relating to a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) exercise carried out by the Wenchi-based NGO in Brong-Ahafo on the achievements and challenges that faced the feeding programme in the district.

Mr Sieh-Dapaah noted that the programme had not achieved its potential results and benefits of the target groups in the district, because the implementers could not realize the problems that affected the programme, hence were unable to come out with corrective measures to address them.

He disclosed that currently some 6,972 pupils from 24 schools in the District formed part of the 256 beneficiary schools in Brong-Ahafo, who were enjoying the school feeding programme.

He emphasized the need for the Municipal and District Assemblies to support and encourage the zonal, urban, town and area councils to work hard and enhance the good practices as expected by the Social Accountability Project (SAP), a body instituted to ensure the sustainability of the feeding programme.

Mr Ato Mends, Nkoranza North Deputy District Coordinating Director described the feeding programme as unique and laudable for the development of the country, saying, apart from cushioning parents and guardians in educating their children, it also served as an enticement to children of school-going age.

He urged stakeholders of the programme not to play politics with its implementation, but to address bottlenecks that could affect the progress of the programme.

Mr Amo Boffour-Mensah, a resource person, appealed to members of the District Implementation Committee (DIC) of the School Feeding Programme to come together and ensure effective decisions for the programme in the district.

He suggested that farmers in the beneficiary school feeding communities should form farmers groups and sell their food produce to local operating matrons of the programme.