Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has criticisied the Ministry of Education, accusing the entity of deceiving Ghanaians by saying it will investigate the alleged distribution of expired bags of rice to secondary school students.
After the MP’s expose on Wednesday, November 13 2024, where he claimed that approximately 22,000 bags of expired rice were repackaged and distributed to Senior High Schools nationwide, the Ministry responded on November 14 indicating that it will investigate the matter.
However, the lawmaker says the Ministry got wind of the matter since January after the Deputy Education Minister, Ntim Fordjour was briefed on the issue but refused to act.
Speaking on TV3’ News Central, Okudzeto Ablakwa questioned the rationale behind the Ministry’s decision to now investigate the matter when it could have done that earlier to prevent the distribution of the expired rice.
He believes that the Ministry’s decision to now investigate the matter is “disingenuous and only a deception.”
“I am disappointed the Ministry of Education is claiming ignorance and trying to pretend that it only got to know this when I put out this expose. I have intercepted an investigative report by the Food and Drugs Authority.
“As far back as January, a deputy Minister of Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour was briefed about this matter, as far back as January, the ministry could have stopped this distribution of expired, contaminated, rice which had been re-bagged without expiry date and which all our SHS students have been fed on.
Education Ministry investigates Ablakwa’s claim of expired bags of rice distributed to SHSs
“So the attempt to now in November after they have been exposed create the impression that they just got to know about it and are now going to investigate is disingenuous, dishonest, deceptive and should not be tolerated,” he stated on November 15, 2024.
The North Tongu MP called for an independent investigation into the matter rather than an investigation by the Ministry.
“What the country needs now is an independent, impartial credible investigation not one that would be conducted by a Ministry that is complicit,” Ablakwa added.
The MP alleged that the National Food Buffer Stock Company collaborated with a company called Lamens Investments Africa Limited to distribute the expired rice.
The Ministry assured students, parents, guardians, and the public of its commitment to protecting the health and safety of every student under our care.
