The study revealed that since the inception of the GSFP in the District there have been significant improvements in pupils ' enrolment and attendance rates, leading to reduction in absenteeism and drop-out rates. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics mainly frequency and percentages. The purposive sampling procedure was used to select 21 respondents made up of one (1) coordinator of the GSFP five (5) head teachers five (5) caterers and ten (10) Basic school teachers (2 teachers each) from five (5) Basic schools where GSFP have been implemented for more than the past two (2) decades. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. This study sought to assess the relevance and challenges of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in some Basic schools in the Mpohor-Wassa East District. Findings suggest that the school feeding programme could marginally improve nutritional status of beneficiaries. Prevalence of malnutrition was lower among beneficiaries but there were no statistical significant differences in anthropometry between schools with and without feeding programme. Pupils in lower primary had increase odds for underweight (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.6, p=0.006) while those residing in rural areas were five folds more likely to be stunted (AOR 5.3, 95%CI 1.3-21.6, p=0.021).

Most of the explanatory variables including provision of schools meals were not significantly associated with the nutritional status indicators.

Between beneficiary and non-beneficiary pupils, there were no statistically significant differences in underweight (12.4% vs. Overall, 15.6% underweight, 9.8% stunting, 4.3% thinness and 5.5% overweight prevalence were observed. Mutually-adjusted simple and multinomial logistic regressions were done to determine association between the explanatory and dependent variables. Weight, height and mid upper-arm circumference were measured and used to generate underweight, stunting, thinness and obesity using WHO Antroplus and STATA 12.1. Data was collected between January-April 2015 through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire with assistance from teachers/guardians. School-based cross-sectional survey using multi-stage sampling to select 417 pupils aged 3-12 years enrolled in 14 public basic schools with (n=133) and without (n=304) school feeding programme in the seven sub-districts of the Hohoe municipality, Ghana.

The study assessed the impact of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) on the nutritional status of participants. At-school lunch provision through the Ghana school-feeding programme (GSFP) is a child survival, health promotion and food security intervention implemented in selected schools in all 216 districts nationwide with the nutrition objective of reducing short-term hunger and malnutrition.

The Boy from Boadua by Patrick Asare