MoE lauches probe into expired bags of rice supplied to govt SHSs

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched an investigation into an allegation made by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that some expired 22,000 bags of rice in early February this year were repackaged and distributed to second-cycle schools in the country.

He claimed in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News monitored by Pretertiary.com that the National Food Buffer Stock Company conspired with Lamens Investments Africa Limited to carry out the disservice.

Ablakwa alleged that the Buffer Stock storage facility in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region, was used to repackage expired rice brought from India, which expired in December 2023 but was repackaged into locally made sacks, “with the inscription ‘ECOWAS’, ‘Made in Ghana rice’, but without an expiry date.”

“The National Food Buffer Stock Company clearly conspired with a company known as Lamens Investments Africa Limited. They used the Buffer Stock storage facility in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region, to repackage expired rice.

This company brought in rice from India, the brand ‘Moshosho rice,’ which expired in December 2023. Upon realising the rice had expired, they conspired with the Buffer Stock company to use their premises for re-bagging,” he said.

Samuel further disclosed that the Ashanti Regional Police Command and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the region, upon receiving a tip-off, intercepted the food for investigation but it was later released for onward distribution.

“Can you believe that, before the test results arrived from the FDA in Accra on 6th February, an instruction came from above that the expired, contaminated rice should be distributed to the schools? So, as we speak, all 22,000 bags of rice that the police sought to confiscate have been sent to the schools,” he said.

Ablakwa indicated that even after the case was exposed, an investigation was launched but was later abandoned when the said company offered to pay compensation of GH₵100,000.

“There ought to be prosecution. The company has admitted to their wrongdoing and agreed to pay a fine of GH₵100,000 after jeopardising the health of thousands of Ghanaian students. Even the fine – they have only paid half of it, and they can’t be located to pay the remainder,” he claimed.

But in a statement, the Education Ministry said it has engaged the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), the entities responsible for the supply and distribution of food to Senior High Schools.

“We assure students, parents, guardians, and the public of our commitment to protecting the health and safety of every student under our care.

Rest assured, we will pursue this matter to the end, and provide updates to the Public as our investigation progresses,” The statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng stated.