Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister nominee for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, has committed to addressing the ongoing payment delays affecting caterers under the government’s school feeding programme.

Her pledge comes amid growing concerns over unpaid arrears and the declining quality of meals served to schoolchildren.

Speaking during her vetting by the Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, Naa Momo assured that she would tackle these issues and ensure the effective implementation of the programme.

“Our manifesto clearly outlines our goal to resolve the bottlenecks in school feeding and capitation grants. We even plan to extend the programme to private schools,” she disclosed.

The Minister nominee explained that while payments for approximately 40 days have been processed, arrears for 31 days remain outstanding. She expressed her determination to address these payment delays as soon as possible.

Madam Naa Momo also highlighted her collaborative approach, stressing the importance of engaging with all relevant stakeholders to find sustainable solutions.

“One of my strengths is fostering dialogue with all involved to achieve lasting outcomes. With payments already initiated, I am confident that the president is committed to not only sustaining the programme but also ensuring the quality of food is upheld,” she affirmed.

The nominee reiterated her dedication to improving the efficiency of the school feeding programme and ensuring that the nutritional needs of schoolchildren are adequately met.