The Ministry of Education has assured the public of its commitment to investigating and addressing allegations of expired food being distributed to Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Thursday, November 14, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Kwesi Kwarteng, emphasized that the Ministry will not tolerate any unscrupulous activities that compromise the safety and well-being of students.

“At no point will the Ministry of Education countenance some of these unscrupulous activities, no matter who is involved,” Mr. Kwarteng stated.

He added, “We are very much convinced that at the end of the investigations, we will be able to get to the bottom… and get to know the individuals or the personalities behind these unscrupulous activities that have happened.”

The Ministry’s response follows allegations made by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The MP alleged that 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice were distributed to various SHSs through the Free Senior High School Secretariat earlier this year.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, the expired rice, imported from India under the brand Moshosho Rice, was repackaged into sacks labeled “ECOWAS” and “Made in Ghana Rice” but omitted any expiry dates. He claimed the act was deliberate and involved collusion between the National Food Buffer Stock Company and a private entity, Lamens Investments Africa Limited.

“The National Food Buffer Stock Company clearly conspired with a company known as Lamens Investments Africa Limited. They used the Buffer Stock storage facility in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, to repackage expired rice,” Mr. Ablakwa alleged.

In response, Mr. Kwarteng acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and noted that the Ministry has commenced investigations while also calling on state institutions, particularly the Ghana Police Service, to aid in uncovering the truth.

“It is important to reiterate that we take these allegations very seriously, and we have immediately commenced investigations,” he said.

He further clarified that while the Ministry does not engage in food distribution directly, it is working closely with the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the Ghana Commodity Exchange to address the concerns.

“We are jointly looking into the concerns or the matters that have been raised. We need certain responses from them,” he explained.

Mr. Kwarteng described the feedback from Mr. Ablakwa as valuable and assured the public that the Ministry remains dedicated to improving service delivery in the education sector.

“We are glad that the Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is bringing this to our notice, and we are working on it,” he added.

He reassured parents and guardians that the Ministry would prioritize the safety and welfare of students throughout the investigation.

“We will pursue this matter and ensure that the safety and well-being of our students remain paramount,” Mr. Kwarteng concluded.