Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, has uncovered a dangerous scheme endangering Senior High School students.
His investigation reveals that a crony company, with protection from NPP political figures, illegally repackaged over 15,000 bags of expired, contaminated rice without expiry dates.
This rice was then distributed to Senior High Schools nationwide and served to students.
“On 20th December 2023, the Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) received an alert from a patriotic Ghanaian about a suspicious re-packaging exercise that had not been authorized by the FDA. This unauthorized re-packaging was shockingly being carried out at the storage facility of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in the Ashanti Region.
“When FDA officials acted on the alert, it emerged that a similar alert had been received by the Ashanti Regional Police Command and the command had promptly moved in to close the storage facility. The FDA and the Ashanti Regional Police Command then commenced investigations into the matter”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Hon. Ablakwa reported that the Ashanti Regional FDA found that Moshosho Rice, imported by Lamens Investments Africa Ltd. with registration number FDA/Ce 20-701, came from India’s Satya Balajee Rice Industries PVT Ltd.
Of the 33,000 imported 50kg bags, 22,000 were stored at the National Food Buffer Stock facility in Kumasi, while the remaining 10,000 were held at Lynbrok, a bonded warehouse in Tema.
Hon. Ablakwa revealed that Lamens Investments Africa and the National Food Buffer Stock, aware of the December 2023 expiration on Moshosho Rice, began illegally re-bagging it from yellow 50kg bags into white 50kg bags labeled “CEDAO ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve.”
According to the MP, the new bags had no expiry date, violating General Labelling Regulation LI 1541.
Additionally, the country of origin was changed from India to Ghana to falsely present the rice as locally produced. “This illegal re-packaging was carried out without FDA’s approval as required by law”.
Ablakwa reported that the National Food Buffer Stock facility lacked a storage and re-packaging license, violating the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
He added that the facility had no qualified personnel to oversee its operations.
Ablakwa Exposes NPP Ties in Food Buffer Scandal
Furthermore, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa pointed out that President Akufo-Addo appointed Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for Pusiga, as CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company.
He also revealed that the company’s board is chaired by NPP National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye.
According to Ablakwa, Lamens Investments Africa Ltd, the importer, admitted wrongdoing and agreed to an administrative fine of GHS100,000, paying a GHS50,000 deposit to the FDA on January 5, 2024.
He stated that, however, FDA insiders report that Lamens has since refused to pay the remaining balance.
“Typical of sweetheart deals under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, Lamens Investments Africa Limited was single-sourced. The company has no proven track record. Lamens was incorporated on 20th July 2020. Its directors are David Agyefi-Mensah and Simon Adjei.
“An intercepted internal memo from the Ashanti Regional FDA dated 29th December 2023 (copy attached) reveals that initially, the FDA intended to fine Lamens Investments GHS150,000.00; dispose the 15,000 bags which had been re-packaged at the time of the alert, and issue an immediate desist order to stop further re-packaging, however, intense political pressure thwarted the FDA’s original plans”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ablakwa further revealed that an intercepted letter from the Ashanti Regional Police, dated December 21, 2023, requested FDA assistance to test the re-packaged rice.
He noted that, however, before test results arrived from FDA-Accra, a higher authority ordered the rice to be distributed to Senior High Schools.
According to the MP, the FDA later issued the test results on February 6, 2024, but the expired rice had already been sent to schools on February 2.
Ablakwa noted that if authorities had waited, the rice would have been destroyed instead of served to students.
He stated that evidence shows the contaminated rice was distributed to schools like PRESEC, Legon (Greater Accra’s central SHS warehouse), and Bolga Girls. “That means all Senior High and TVET Schools pick up their supplies from PRESEC”.
The MP confirmed that these schools received the re-packaged rice without a best-before date.
According to him, Headmasters raised concerns, but they were ignored. Tragically, the FDA’s analysis of the rice samples revealed a high presence of insects and elevated fat acidity.
Doctors Warn of Health Risks for SHS Students from Contaminated Rice
Moreover, Hon. Samuel Ablakwa stated that doctors consulted regarding the FDA lab results warned of serious health risks for SHS students.
He indicated that according to the doctors, consuming rice with high-fat acidity and insect infestation can cause digestive issues, allergic reactions, and long-term problems like chronic inflammation, liver disease, and nutritional deficiencies.
“Furthermore, certain insect components, like chitin, may be difficult for some individuals to digest, potentially leading to chronic digestive issues and discomfort over time. Sadly, my parliamentary oversight affirms that all the 22,000 highly contaminated re-packaged insect-infested and high-fat acidity rice have been consumed by our children in Senior High Schools across the country since February this year.
“Considering that the Moshosho rice expired in December 2023 and that distribution to schools was carried out in February 2024 coupled with the fact that these food items are stored over several months before they are completely consumed in dining halls, we can only imagine the levels of contamination by the time the students consumed the entire quantities”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
The MP expressed outrage that the politicians and business partners responsible for risking SHS students’ health have not been held accountable.
He pointed out that Act 851 is clear as Section 103(1) makes it an offense to sell or advertise food falsely or misleadingly.
Ablakwa also pointed out that Section 130(1) also prohibits the manufacture, sale, or storage of regulated products without proper registration. “We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited”.
The MP further called for sanctions against the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s management for allowing their unregistered storage facilities to be used for this crime, endangering students’ health for corrupt gain.
He also urged an investigation into the Ministry of Education for their role in this scandal, including reports that they pressured the FDA to back off.
CHASS, teacher unions, PTAs, and all Ghanaians must demand that no Senior High School receives re-packaged food without expiry dates.
The MP vowed to seek justice until accountability is ensured. “Our SHS students must never be subjected to this unwarranted callousness just because an unscrupulous few seek to enrich themselves”.
READ ALSO: Mixed Results on GSE
