North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has continued to insist that expired rice was repackaged and distributed to senior high schools as part of the school feeding program. Ablakwa claims that the rice, originally marked with a best-before date of 2023, was re-bagged and sent to various institutions, despite its expired status.
Reacting to comments made by the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, who dismissed his allegations as propaganda, Ablakwa labeled the remarks as reckless and irresponsible. Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, November 23, Ablakwa stated, “It is reckless for a public official to dismiss these concerns without considering the facts.”
The controversy began when Osei Opare described the claims as “rumour-mongering” and suggested that the focus should be on advancing education in the country, rather than discussing baseless allegations. She further emphasized that the rice in question had been certified safe for consumption by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
On November 18, the FDA’s Public Relations Officer, Kwasi Kwarteng, also weighed in, confirming that the rice had been certified as safe by the authority. However, the agency acknowledged that Lamens Ventures, the company responsible for distributing the rice, had been fined for re-bagging the rice without prior approval.
Ablakwa has called for urgent national medical screenings for senior high school students who may have consumed the rice. He criticized the Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health for their silence on the matter and urged them to take immediate action.
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Meanwhile, Lamens Ventures has been fined GH¢100,000 by the FDA for violating packaging regulations. The company repackaged about 22,000 bags of rice without proper labeling and approval, an act which the FDA deemed a serious breach of public health safety. Despite the fine, the FDA clarified that the rice itself was safe for consumption following rigorous testing.
The FDA’s statement also noted that the re-bagging was conducted in an unlicensed facility, without FDA supervision, which led to the administrative fine. Although the FDA extended the rice’s best-before date to April 2024 following scientific evaluations, it rejected a further extension due to insufficient stability data.
The situation has sparked calls for greater accountability and transparency within the government’s handling of food safety standards in educational institutions.
