News:
November 18, 2024
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament has challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo, his Vice Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Education Minister Dr. Adutwum and his deputy Rev Ntim Fordjour to publicly consume the remaining samples of Moshosho rice from India.
According to Samule Okudzeto Ablakwa the contaminated rice has criminally and callously been re-barged, twenty-two thousand barges in 50kg and used to feed Senior High School (SHS) students across the country.
The act, he said was done by the National Food Buffer Stock Company and Lamens Africa Investment Ltd which have been at the center of the scandal from December 2023 to April 30, 2024, and further expressed worry that the Education Ministry is defending the company despite the company admitting culpability.
“We strongly condemn this irresponsible and reckless conduct of the Ministry of Education and the government; and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government must provide answers to the following pertinent questions from the people we represent in this parliament”.
- Why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government failed to initiate an independent, impartial and credible investigation into this heart-wrenching matter and why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government become spokespersons for the notorious Lamens?
• Again, why was Lamens not blacklisted in 2020 when the Auditor-General made damning findings against the company about other unwholesome food items it distributed to schools?
• Why did NAFCO, led by Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab and Nana Boakye permit their NAFCO storage facility in Kumasi to be used by Lamens for this criminal re-bagging?
• Why did NAFCO enter into this callous and criminal conspiracy with Lamens to put the lives of our students at risk?
• Did NAFCO not seek approval from the FDA for the dubious repackaging exercise. NAFCO failed to comply with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) which requires that all NAFCO storage facilities across the country be registered?
• As at today, NAFCO has failed to comply with utter impunity and continues to put the health of our children at great risk. Is the claim by the Education Ministry that the FDA extended the best before date from December 2023 to April 30, 2024, accurate?
• If this claim is accurate, can the FDA explain to Ghanaians under what law and authority they extended the expiry date for Lamens as claimed by the Education Ministry. What are the FDA’s protocols for such strange extensions? How did Lamens manage to obtain this extension the same day it applied to the FDA?
• Why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration not sanction any official involved in this grave matter? Who are the shadowy government actors who ensured the release of officials of Lamens after their arrest and who are the unpatriotic and dangerous government officials who put pressure on the FDA to change their position on this matter?
• How did Lamens move from a culpable and fined company to a darling company of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government?
• Have, the directors of Lamens escaped prosecution all these years?
“The NDC caucus asserts that President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia cannot remain silent on this grave matter which jeopardizes the health of millions of Ghanaian students. The nation is looking up to them to offer leadership, punish culprits who are largely their appointees and implement reforms to ensure the safety of our children. The NDC Caucus also demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com