The Ministry of Education has addressed allegations made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa concerning the distribution of 22,000 bags of allegedly expired and repackaged rice to Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.
In a statement, the Ministry clarified that the rice was certified as safe by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Ablakwa alleged that the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and Lamens Investments Africa Limited colluded to distribute rice that originally expired in December 2023. He further claimed the rice was re-bagged in locally made sacks with misleading labels such as “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana rice,” omitting an expiry date.
Responding on November 14, 2024, the Ministry confirmed that NAFCO engaged Lamens Ventures to procure the rice. While some of the stock remained unused by the end of December 2023, FDA advised re-testing the rice in India, where it was found fit for consumption. FDA subsequently extended the “Best Before” date to April 30, 2024.
The Ministry assured that the rice distributed in February 2024 was FDA-certified as wholesome. Approval was also granted to re-bag the stock with updated labels.
Despite these clarifications, Ablakwa continues to challenge the FDA’s certification, maintaining that the rice was expired and unfit for consumption.
Read initial findings: Supply of Expired Rice to Students under the Free SHS Programme
1. The National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) engaged Lamens Ventures to procure rice for distribution to students under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program.
2. A total of 11,000 metric tons of rice was imported, with an initial expiry date of December 2023.
3. By the last quarter of 2023, NAFCO still had a portion of this stock yet to be supplied to schools.
4. On the advice of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Lamens Ventures followed the necessary protocols to have the rice re-tested in India, its country of origin.
5. The re-testing was to ascertain the possibility of extending the rice’s shelf life by an additional year, to December 2024.
5. Following further evaluations and verifications, the FDA granted a temporary extension of the rice’s “Best Before” date to 30th April 2024, after confirming the product’s continued wholesomeness.
6. It is important to note that February 2024 was the last time Lamens distributed these rice to schools through NAFCO and at the time the rice was deemed wholesome by the FDA
7. To address concerns from schools regarding the rice’s perceived expiry date, Lamens Ventures submitted a formal request to the FDA, dated 9th February 2024, seeking approval to re-bag the remaining stock to reflect the updated shelf life.
8. The rice was certified by the FDA as wholesome for consumption, with its new expiry date extended to April, 2024.
