The Coordinator for the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Adamu Seidu wants a separate fund earmarked for the programme to save it from total collapse. Mr. Seidu said the current practice where funds for the programme are sourced from the consolidated funds and tied to the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF), is affecting its smooth operation. About 5,000 caterers under the programme are currently owed in excess of GH¢1 million, as a result of the failure by the Ministry of Finance to release funds for the programme since January, 2013. Caterers have been compelled to reduce the quality and quantity of the food served to pupils as a result of the delay, a development Mr. Seidu described as unfortunate. Speaking Tuesday on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, the national Coordinator of the Programme said the DACF has not been paid for four quarters, contributing to the current woes of the programme. Mr. Seidu is however, hopeful that the caterers will be paid not less than 40-days out of the 100-days they are owed. The Ministry of Finance has approved part payment of the arrears, Mr. Seidu said and assured the caterers it would hit their accounts by close of this week. The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) is a project to provide food to children at schools located in deprived communities. It is run by the GSFP Secretariat partnered by international agencies like the World Bank, the World Food Programme and UNICEF, as well as national organizations including Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Dutch embassy. In 2009 it was announced the programme would be shifted from pilot to mainstream status, and that within two years the programme would be extended from primary to junior high school level, one reason being that some students were reluctant to move on to JHS because they would no longer be fed at school.