Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, in a recent parliamentary session addressed concerns regarding the delay in implementing the ‘One Free Chocolate per Student’ initiative pledged by President Akufo-Addo in 2017.
Responding to a question posed by MP Clement Apaak, the minister clarified that the initiative is aimed at promoting the consumption of local cocoa products in primary and secondary schools.
Despite the initiative’s noble intentions, Yaw Adutwum admitted that its implementation has yet to commence.
He outlined a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Agriculture, COCOBOD, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service.
While engagement with partners continues, there’s no concrete timeline for its rollout.
However, Minority Leader Dr. Casiel Ato Forson has revealed a concerning detail – a portion of a 600 million cedis loan from the African Development Bank intended for purchasing cocoa under this initiative remains unused.
Ato Forson pressed the minister for an explanation on why these funds haven’t been utilized as intended, adding another layer of scrutiny to the delayed initiative.
