The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has alleged that a total of 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice were distributed to various Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country.
He claimed that the consignment was distributed through the Free Senior High School Secretariat in February this year.
The MP, who also serves as the head of the Assurances Committee in Parliament, said in his investigation into the matter, after receiving a tip-off, the action was deliberately carried out.
According to him, “The National Food Buffer Stock Company 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 realizing the rice had expired, they conspired with the Buffer Stock company to use their premises for re-bagging.”
He explained that the rice was repackaged into locally made sacks, “with inscription ‘ECOWAS’, ‘Made in Ghana rice’, but without an expiry date.”
Mr Okudzeto made these statements during an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, 14th November.
He also revealed 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. However, 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.
The MP further alleged that approximately “10,000 bags were kept in a bonded warehouse in Tema, known as Lynbrook.”
According to the MP, after the exposure of the case, an investigation was launched but was later abandoned when the said company offered to pay compensation of GH₵100,000.
He said, “There ought to be prosecution. The company has admitted to their wrongdoing and agreed to pay a fine of GH₵100,000 after jeopardizing the health of thousands of Ghanaian students.”
He added that the company had not paid the full fine and could not be traced. “Even the fine – they have only paid half of it, and they can’t be located to pay the remainder,” he claimed.
The rice, according to the FDA’s results, was “so contaminated, it had insects and a very high acidity level. Medical doctors who have seen the FDA results say that this rice should have been destroyed.” the MP said.
The MP is therefore calling for a full investigation into the matter and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
