The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has raised concerns over the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)’s handling of the recent expired rice scandal involving Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the region. The minister stated that the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) will initiate its own investigation into the matter.
He is questioning the FDA’s decision to impose a fine on Lamens, the company accused of repackaging and selling expired rice to the government rather than confiscating and destroying the rice. According to the minister, if the rice was found to be expired, the proper course of action should have been to seize it, not allow it to remain in circulation.
This controversy was sparked by allegations from Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who claimed last week that the Free Senior High School Secretariat had distributed 22,000 bags of 50kg of expired rice to various SHSs. Ablakwa provided evidence suggesting that the rice, although expired, was repackaged and distributed to schools across the country. He also revealed that the FDA had fined Lamens GH₵100,000 for the alleged infraction but permitted the company to continue the distribution.
However, the Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Officer, Kwasi Kwarteng, defended the rice, stating that the FDA had deemed the 22,000 bags of rice as safe for consumption.
Speaking on Koforidua-based Bryt FM, which was monitored by Starr News, the Ashanti Regional Minister expressed skepticism regarding the FDA’s actions. “If the FDA has found that the rice has expired but was rebagged, were they supposed to seize the rice or just impose a fine on the company? The rice has expired, so if you impose a fine on them, does that make it wholesome? This means the FDA has also failed,” Osei-Mensah said.
The minister announced that REGSEC, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will launch a thorough investigation into the handling of the expired rice issue. “We are going to begin our own investigations. Every quarter, we hold meetings with the Vice Chancellors, Members of CHASS, heads of TVET, and Regional Education directors to discuss security on our campuses and the welfare of students. We are not REGSEC who are sleeping on the job. So they have to give us the basis for the fine,” he added.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
