John Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended his proposal to cancel the supply of food items to Senior High Schools (SHSs) by the National Food Buffer Stock Company, as part of his plans to review the Free SHS policy.
Mahama referred to a recent allegation by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who claimed that 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice were distributed to SHSs nationwide in February 2024.
Ablakwa alleged that the National Food Buffer Stock Company collaborated with Lamens Investments Africa Limited to carry out the distribution.
Speaking at a campaign event in Asawinso, Western North Region, on Friday, Mahama argued for the decentralization of food supply to SHSs, emphasizing the need for a more efficient and transparent system.
“I know you have heard that some expired and repackaged bags of rice have been distributed by the National Buffer Stock to various SHSs across the country for our kids to eat.
“That is why we say we won’t buy foodstuff for the schools. The money for the food will be given to the schools directly to make such purchases,” he stated.
