A deepening rift within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Tano North, Bono Region, has erupted into a full-blown crisis over the management of the School Feeding Programme, threatening to derail its impact on schoolchildren in the area.
At the heart of the conflict are bitter disagreements between rival factions within the party—one aligned with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and the other with the Constituency Chairman. Both camps are accused of seeking to control the selection of caterers for political and personal advantage, sparking fierce competition and resentment in communities such as Bomaa, Bredi, and Boukrukruwa.
As tensions escalate, the programme’s implementation has ground to a halt in several basic schools. According to school authorities, the wrangling has led to inconsistent food supply, leaving scores of pupils without their expected daily meals.
“The programme was introduced to support schoolchildren and improve enrolment and learning outcomes. Unfortunately, political infighting is now threatening its success in our area,” one concerned headteacher said.
The School Feeding Programme, designed to boost nutrition and attendance among Ghana’s youngest learners, is now at risk of being hijacked by internal power struggles, with parents and community leaders warning of long-term consequences for children’s health and academic progress.
Party insiders point to a toxic environment where contract allocations are reportedly being used as a tool to reward loyalty and punish dissent. The ensuing confusion and delay have fueled widespread frustration among NDC supporters and the general public alike.
Amid the fallout, there is growing pressure on the NDC’s regional leadership to urgently intervene. Many stakeholders argue that the party risks damaging its credibility and electoral standing in the constituency if the feud is allowed to fester.
Calls for a swift resolution are intensifying, with local opinion leaders insisting that the welfare of schoolchildren must take precedence over petty political turf wars. The programme, they say, must be shielded from factional interests to fulfil its core mandate of supporting child development through nutrition.
With the School Feeding Programme now caught in the crossfire of intra-party disputes, the Tano North NDC faces a pivotal moment—either restore unity and purpose or risk losing public trust in both its leadership and policies.
