Mahama directs release of food stored in warehouses to govt SHSs

Following a food shortage in government second-cycle schools, President John Mahama has directed that part of the consignment of food stored in warehouses in Tema be distributed to Senior High Schools across the country.
The food items were imported by the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government to support farmers in the regions of the north affected by last year’s drought.
As an interim measure to address the shortage of food in second-cycle schools nationwide, the President has directed the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to liaise with the management of the Ghana Education Service to distribute the food.
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama gave the directive for the distribution of all food items in holding in Tema to schools across the country when he addressed the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service in Accra.
Speaking at the Christian National Thanksgiving Service at the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on January 12, 2025, John Mahama said the situation in the schools was an emergency and thereby the order.
“As we speak, we have a challenge currently with feeding students in secondary schools, as the GES insisted that schools must reopen on the 3rd of January, contrary to the advice of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools for a postponement,” he said.
As a stopgap measure, I have asked the Chief of Staff to work with the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allocate and evacuate food that is currently held in warehouses in Tema,” the President stated.
He continued “This food was imported by the previous government in response to the drought that occurred last year, but in this emergency, we need to use some of that food to feed our students so that education can continue.”
The event was attended by Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the First Lady Lordina Mahama, leading members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) such as Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary and the Party’s Members of Parliament.
Also in attendance were the clergy, including the Reverend Dr Stephen Wengam, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana; Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah, Apostle General of the Royalhouse Chapel; Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Founder and Overseer of Christian Action Faith Ministries Worldwide; Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, Founder and Archbishop, Perez Chapel International, and Apostle Dr Isaac Owusu-Bempah of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International.
The others were Dr Lawrence Tetteh, Founder/President of Worldwide Miracle Outreach and a renowned global Evangelist; Bishop Salifu Amoako, the Founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel International; Bishop Gideon Titi-Ofei, Presiding Bishop, of Pleasant Place Church; and Prophet Akwasi Agyemang Prempeh, General Overseer, Springs of Joy Ministries International.
In related news, the government has held a high-level meeting with the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and the Ministry of Education to address the ongoing food supply issues in second-cycle schools across the country.