The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited, alongside sanctions for the Board and Management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company. This follows allegations of distributing expired rice to Senior High Schools across the country.
The allegations were raised by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who accused the two entities of collaborating to supply 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice to schools. Speaking on behalf of the Minority on Monday, November 18, Ablakwa described the act as a “reckless and corrupt transaction” that endangered students’ health.
According to Ablakwa, Lamens Investment Africa Limited had previously been flagged by the Auditor-General in 2021 for providing unwholesome food items to schools, yet no action was taken by authorities. He criticized the government’s failure to address the recurring issue.
“The NDC Caucus also demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited,” Ablakwa stated. “The board and management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company must be sanctioned for allowing their storage facilities to be used for this atrocious act and for operating unregistered storage facilities across the country.”
The Minority also urged the Ministry of Education to facilitate health screenings for students who may have consumed the expired rice. Ablakwa emphasized the importance of addressing potential health risks, stating, “Public health officials must carry out a major screening exercise immediately to assess the medium- and long-term effects of this insect-infested, highly acidic, and contaminated rice.”
The call has sparked widespread concerns over food safety and accountability in Ghana’s education system, as parents and stakeholders demand swift government action to prevent such incidents in the future.