‘Expired rice allegations are pure propaganda’, says Chief of Staff
The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, has dismissed claims by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, about the alleged distribution of repackaged expired rice to some Senior High Schools (SHSs). Speaking in response to the allegations, Frema Osei Opare criticized the claims as baseless propaganda and urged Ghanaians to focus on matters … The post ‘Expired rice allegations are pure propaganda’, says Chief of Staff appeared first on Asaase Radio.
The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, has dismissed claims by North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, about the alleged distribution of repackaged expired rice to some Senior High Schools (SHSs).
Speaking in response to the allegations, Frema Osei Opare criticized the claims as baseless propaganda and urged Ghanaians to focus on matters that promote national development.
“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,” she said during an interview with Joy News on Monday (18 November).
The controversy arose after Ablakwa alleged that 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice had been distributed to schools under the government’s school feeding program.
He further called for the arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited, the company involved, and sanctions against the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
In support of the Chief of Staff’s stance, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, reiterated that the rice in question had been certified as safe for consumption by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
“The rice was not expired,” Mr. Kwarteng emphasized. He clarified that Lamens Ventures was penalized by the FDA not for distributing unsafe food, but for failing to secure FDA approval before repackaging the rice.
The Minority in Parliament has, however, continued to press for investigations, with Ablakwa also citing a 2021 Auditor-General’s report that allegedly flagged Lamens Ventures for providing substandard food supplies.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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The post ‘Expired rice allegations are pure propaganda’, says Chief of Staff appeared first on Asaase Radio.
