The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has issued a stern warning to managers of Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country, stating that any school authority found complicit in denying students adequate and nutritious meals will face severe sanctions.
Dr Apaak made the remarks in a Facebook post on Saturday, January 17, 2026, as he added his voice to an official statement released by the Ghana Education Service (GES) over alleged feeding challenges at Savelugu Senior High School.
“Our students deserve balanced, nutritious and sufficient meals. Government has made sufficient funds available to ensure that,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Heads, Matrons and Bursars Under Scrutiny
Dr Apaak cautioned that headmasters, matrons and bursars who engage in practices that compromise student welfare would be held accountable.
“Managers of our secondary schools whose conduct denies our students good meals would face severe consequences if found complicit,” he warned.
His comments come amid growing public concern following a video circulating on social media, which raised questions about the quality and adequacy of food served to students at Savelugu SHS.
GES Confirms Investigation
In a separate statement, the Ghana Education Service confirmed that it had taken notice of the viral video and had initiated investigations into the alleged feeding situation at the school.
“Management of the Ghana Education Service has sighted a video circulating on social media about an alleged food situation at Savelugu Senior High School,” the statement said.
The Service stressed that student feeding remains a top priority, describing any form of mismanagement as a serious offence.
“Management takes the quality of student feeding very seriously, hence it prioritises quality feeding and views mismanagement as a serious offence,” GES noted.
GES: Incident Not Nationwide
While acknowledging public concern, the GES sought to reassure parents and guardians that the situation at Savelugu SHS does not reflect the general state of feeding in SHSs nationwide.
“Management wishes to assure the public, especially parents, that the incident at Savelugu Senior High School is an isolated case and does not reflect the overall feeding status nationwide,” the statement said.
Stronger Oversight Measures Announced
The Education Service further disclosed that investigations are ongoing and announced plans to intensify unannounced monitoring visits to senior high schools across the country to prevent future lapses.
“Investigations have been initiated into the matter,” the GES added, while calling on school authorities and stakeholders to cooperate fully with management.
School heads were also urged to promptly report challenges they encounter to allow for timely intervention.
Government Rejects Funding Excuse
Dr Apaak’s intervention underscores the government’s position that funding constraints cannot be used as justification for poor feeding practices, especially at a time when resources have been made available to support student welfare.
The warning signals a renewed commitment by the Ministry of Education and the GES to protect students’ wellbeing and enforce accountability within Ghana’s secondary education system.
