By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada. April 18, 2026
Ghana’s flagship Free SHS programme is facing one of its most serious threats yet, as negotiations over school feeding collapse, raising fears of a nationwide shutdown.
A high-level meeting between the Ministry of Education and key stakeholders ended in deadlock, leaving unresolved the urgent issue of funding for perishable food supplies.
School heads warn that without immediate intervention, students may soon be sent home.
Behind the scenes, many administrators have reportedly been forced to rely on personal funds and credit just to keep students fed.
With over 1.2 million students at risk, the stakes are unprecedented.
Commentary – Boakye Stephen
A policy is only as strong as its implementation.
Feeding students is not a side issue, it is the foundation of learning. Hungry students cannot study, and struggling schools cannot sustain national promises.
If this crisis is not addressed urgently, Free SHS risks becoming a vision without structure.
