The flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama, has accused government of serving expired food items to senior high schools through the National Buffer Stock Company.
This follows a recent expose made by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, which revealed the repacking of expired rice for onward distribution to senior high schools.
Speaking to residents of Asawinso in the Sefwi Wiawso constituency of the Western North region, the former President reiterated his resolve to decentralise the feeding grant in the senior high schools to avoid the occurrence of such situations.
He explained that rather than the central government distributing food items to the various schools, the funds would be given to the headmasters to purchase the food items from the local markets to boost the local economies.
The initiative, which John Mahama has already highlighted in his campaign tour, he stated, is part of the review his next administration will make in the free SHS policy.
“We have also heard that the NPP government through the National Buffer Stock has changed the package of an expired rice because they don’t want anyone to find out that the rice has expired and sent to our secondary schools for our children to consume.
“That is why the next NDC government says it will will not be buying rice for the schools but rather, if it is Asawinso Senior High, the money will be given to the Asawinso headmaster buy the food items from the Asawinso market,” he stated.
Education Ministry investigates Ablakwa’s claim of expired bags of rice distributed to SHSs
