Expired ‘Moshosho Rice’ for Students Scandal Rages On

The outrage over alleged repackage and distribution of expired rice imported from India to some Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the country earlier this year, is far from over, as Minority in Parliament, is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the two directors of the company, Lamens Investments Africa.

The 22,000 kilograms consignment, under a brand name ‘Moshosho rice,’ was said to have expired in December 2023, but was allegedly repackaged and distributed to schools through the Free Senior High School Secretariat in February this year, according to North Tongu Member of Parliament [MP], Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, November 18, 2024, Mr Ablakwa, expressed disappointment over the apparent lack of action on the matter, which has sparked widespread public concern.

“The NDC Caucus demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited, Mr Agyefi Mensah and Simon Agyei – those two directors. Simon Agyei at the time of the arrest was there supervising the illegal operations at the Buffer Stock company in Kumasi before the order came from above that he should be released. We demand their re-arrest and prosecution,” he said.

The Caucus, also called for an investigation into the National Food Buffer Stock Company, whose facilities ,were allegedly used to store the expired rice.

They criticised the company for operating unregistered storage sites and urged sanctions against its Board and Management.

“Such recklessness which sacrifices the health of our students for corrupt transactions must not go unpunished,” he added in a report by myjoyonline.com.

They also demanded an inquiry into the Ministry of Education, accusing it of putting pressure on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to overlook regulatory breaches in the case.

Why Drama If FDA Declares ?

However, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, has questioned the basis of Minority and Mr Ablakwa’s criticism, since the matter has been settled.

According to Mr Kwarteng, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) declared the ‘expired’ rice safe for consumption on January 16, 2024.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday news yesterday, Mr Kwarteng, defended the Ministry’s position, stating that the safety and well-being of students, have always been their top priority.

“At the end of the day, the understanding that I have from the FDA is that, they declared the product wholesome and safe for consumption. The approval came on January 16, 2024,” he said.

Mr Kwarteng, expressed surprise at Ablakwa’s dissatisfaction, emphasising that the FDA’s assurance of the rice’s safety, should have resolved the matter.

“I do not understand why Ablakwa should be disappointed. The FDA confirmed that the food was wholesome. If the intention is to fight for the safety and well-being of students, then this confirmation should be enough,” he argued.

He clarified that Lamens Investments Africa, the company at the centre of the controversy, was sanctioned by the FDA not for distributing unwholesome food, but for failing to obtain the necessary approval to repackage the rice.

“The FDA’s issue was that Lamens did not get the requisite approval for repackaging. Although they had extended the product’s ‘best before’ date, Lamens was supposed to attach the necessary documentation to every consignment sent to schools. They failed to do this and repackaged the product without approval,” he explained.

“For us at the Ministry, our priority is to find out whether the food is wholesome, and we have done that. So that ends it for the ministry,” he stressed.

This was after the Education Ministry, had given its preliminary findings on the matter saying, “the rice was certified by the FDA as wholesome for consumption, with its new expiry date extended to April, 2024”.

Below Is Published, Initial Findings By the Education Ministry:

Initial findings: Supply of Expired Rice to Students under the Free SHS Program

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.
6. 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.
7. ⁠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
8. ⁠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.
9. The rice was certified by the FDA as wholesome for consumption, with its new expiry date extended to April, 2024.

Source: Anchorghana.com