Expired Rice Saga: Minority calls for arrest and prosecution of Lamens Directors
Accra, Ghana - Nov 18, 2024 - Ghana's Minority in Parliament is demanding justice after allegations surfaced that Lamens Investment Africa Limited and the National Food Buffer Stock Company distributed expired rice to Senior High Schools nationwide.
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that Lamens Investment Africa Limited had a history of supplying unwholesome food items to schools, dating back to 2021, yet no action was taken.
The Minority is calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Lamens Investment Africa Limited's directors and sanctions against the National Food Buffer Stock Company's board and management. They argue that allowing unregistered storage facilities to operate and enabling the distribution of expired rice puts students' health at risk for corrupt gain.
Ablakwa emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating that public health officials have warned of potential long-term health implications due to the contaminated rice.
According to him, the Minority wants the Ministry of Education to facilitate mass screening the students.
Speaking to the press on Monday, November 18, on behalf of the Minority, Ablakwa stated that, “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.''
“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 added.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
