The Ministry of Education (MoE) has initiated an investigation into allegations that approximately 22,000 bags of expired rice were repackaged and supplied to Senior High Schools across the country.
The allegations were made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Wednesday, November 13. He accused the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) of collaborating with Lamens Investments Africa Limited to distribute the expired rice. According to Ablakwa, the rice, imported from India, had expired in December 2023 and was repackaged in locally produced sacks labeled “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana rice,” without any expiry dates. The repackaging allegedly took place at a NAFCO storage facility in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the MoE expressed gratitude to Ablakwa for bringing the matter to its attention and confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. “We take these allegations seriously and, as a matter of urgency, have commenced a thorough investigation,” the statement read.
The Ministry said it had engaged NAFCO and the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), the entities responsible for the supply and distribution of food to Senior High Schools, to investigate the claims.
“We have partnered with NAFCO and GCX to conduct a comprehensive probe into the issues raised by Hon. Ablakwa,” the statement added.
The Ministry assured students, parents, and the public of its commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of all students. “Rest assured, we will see this matter through to its conclusion and provide updates to the public as our investigation progresses,” it stated.