The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has challenged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and Education Minister Dr. Yaw Adutwum to publicly consume samples of repackaged rice distributed to Senior High Schools.
According to the party, if the government continues to insist the rice is safe for consumption, they should eat it or admit they failed to protect Ghanaian students.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Chairman of Government Assurance Committee in Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, threw the challenge during a press conference in Parliament on Monday November 18.
This followed damning accusations that the National Food Buffer Stock Company and Lamens Africa Investments Limited deliberately repackaged and distributed expired and contaminated rice to Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country.
The North Tongu MP described the act as a criminal and callous conspiracy that endangers the lives of thousands of students under the government’s Free SHS program.
“Our findings reveal that over 22,000 bags of 50kg expired Moshosho Rice, imported from India, were fraudulently repackaged and distributed to schools as made-in-Ghana rice.”
“This heinous act has grave health implications for our young compatriots,” Ablakwa stated.
Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the rice, which had a best-before date of December 2023, was repackaged into new bags labeled “ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve” without expiry dates.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) investigation revealed that the re-bagging was unauthorized and conducted in unlicensed storage facilities operated by NAFCO.
“Lamens Investments Africa Limited, the importer of the rice, was fined GH¢100,000 by the FDA for its illegal actions.”
“Shockingly, political interference thwarted the destruction of the contaminated rice, and it was repackaged and distributed to schools,” he disclosed.
According to the North Tongu MP, medical experts the NDC consulted underscored the serious health concerns arising from the consumption of expired rice, including exposure to toxins, nutritional deficiencies, and long-term risks such as liver disease and chronic inflammation.
“FDA laboratory tests confirmed the presence of insects and high-fat acidity in the rice. Feeding this to our students is a betrayal of public trust,” Ablakwa lamented.
The NDC also accused the Ministry of Education and the government of shielding Lamens and NAFCO officials involved in the scandal.
Ablakwa questioned why Lamens was not blacklisted despite being implicated in a 2021 Auditor General report for distributing unwholesome food to public secondary schools.
The Caucus demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Lamens’ directors and sanctions against NAFCO’s leadership, including its CEO, Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab.
“Our SHS students must never again be subjected to such recklessness and greed. The health and safety of our children cannot be compromised,” Ablakwa declared.
The Caucus demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Lamens’ directors and sanctions against NAFCO’s leadership, including its CEO, Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab.
“Our SHS students must never again be subjected to such recklessness and greed. The health and safety of our children cannot be compromised.”
“If they believe the rice was safe, let them eat it. Otherwise, they must admit their failure to protect Ghanaian students.”
“This is not just about politics. It’s about the lives of our children and the moral compass of our nation. We shall not rest until justice is served,” Ablakwa asserted.