Their views can help reshape the programme – Naa Momo highlights women’s role in policy reform

Amid rising tensions over the termination of school feeding contracts, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has underscored the value of engaging women in meaningful dialogue to drive change in the sector.

Speaking on Starr Today with Emmanuel Agyabeng, Dr. Lartey emphasized that the predominantly female workforce behind the school feeding programme has the power to contribute significantly to policy development — if engaged constructively.

“The first time I met them over their issue, I told them that because almost all of them in this service are women, if they have challenges and issues, the best approach is for us to jaw-jaw.

Their views and opinions can help shape and reshape the inward or forward movement of the ministry and the programme so that all of us will have this win-win situation and be happy,” she stated.

This appeal to collaboration over confrontation comes as school feeding caterers take to the streets, donning red armbands in protest of what they describe as unjust contract terminations.

While acknowledging their right to protest, the Minister expressed disappointment in the method of dissent.

“After we’ve spoken, all you hear is that their first approach is to go with red bands. It’s their right to express their views anyhow, but being antagonistic unduly, I think, is not the best, and it is not healthy for our engagement,” she added.

Despite the growing frustrations, Dr. Lartey struck a balance between empathy and duty, reaffirming her responsibility to uphold national interests.