The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, has expressed disapproval regarding the remarks made about the purported distribution of repackaged expired rice to certain Senior High Schools (SHSs).
Her statements come in response to allegations made by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who asserted that approximately 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice were provided to these schools.
The Minority in Parliament on Monday, November 18, called for the arrest and legal action against the Directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited, as well as sanctions against the Board and Management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in light of the allegations.
Ablakwa has also claimed that although the Auditor General identified Lamens Ventures in 2021 for providing substandard food products, the government has not taken any measures.
In reaction to Ablakwa’s assertions, Frema Osei Opare characterized the issue as “propaganda and rumour-mongering,” asserting that such matters are inappropriate in an educational context.
She urged Ghanaians to focus on initiatives that will advance the nation’s progress.
In an interview with Joy News on Monday, November 18, the Chief of Staff said, “You know it is not true, so please let us focus on things that move this country forward… We have good things, we have to focus on how we advance the Ghanaian children, and how we improve their opportunities so that they become good citizens. Propaganda and rumour-mongering have no place in education.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, stated that the Food and Drugs Authority certified the rice distributed to schools was safe for consumption.
Mr. Kwarteng emphasized that the rice was not expired, countering the ongoing assertions made by Ablakwa.
He further clarified that the FDA’s penalty against Lamens was not for distributing unsafe food, but for not securing FDA approval before repackaging the rice.
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