The Minority in Parliament has called for the arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited, following the alleged distribution of 22,000 bags of expired rice to Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.
Additionally, the legislators are demanding sanctions for the Board and Management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The claims were made by North Tongu MP and former Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Wednesday, November 13.
He alleged that the National Food Buffer Stock Company colluded with Lamens Investments Africa Limited to distribute the expired rice.
According to Mr Ablakwa, the buffer stock’s storage facility in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, was used to repackage expired rice imported from India.
He claims the rice, which expired in December 2023, was placed in locally produced sacks labelled “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana rice,” but with no expiry date.
Speaking to the media on Monday, November 18, on behalf of the Minority, Mr Ablakwa stated, “The NDC Caucus also demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited. The board and management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company must be sanctioned for allowing their storage facility to be used for this atrocious act and operating unregistered storage facilities across the country.
“Such recklessness which sacrifices the health of our students for corrupt transactions must not go unpunished,” he said.
The caucus further called for the mass screening of Senior High School students for any health implications following the consumption of the alleged expired rice.
“Immediately after this scandal broke, public health officials announced a major screening exercise because the doctors have told us about the medium to long-term implications of this insect-infested, highly acidic and contaminated rice. But here we are, they are all playing ostriches. The Ministry of Education should open its doors for this screening to be done,” he stated.
