The minority in Parliament called for the arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited, as well as the sanction of the board and management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, following allegations that they allegedly distributed expired rice to secondary schools in the country.

The call comes after Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa accused the two institutions of conspiring to distribute 22,000 bags of expired and repackaged rice to schools. Ablakwa also revealed that Lamens Investment Africa Limited was previously cited by the Auditor General in 2021 for supplying unhealthy food to schools, but nothing was done by the government to resolve the matter. Speaking to the press on Monday, November 18, on behalf of the minority, Ablakwa said the NDC group has also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited.

The board and management of the National Buffer Stock Corporation should be sanctioned for allowing its storage facilities to be used for this heinous act and for operating unregistered storage facilities across the country. “Such negligence that sacrifices the health of our students for corrupt practices should not go unpunished,” the minority said.

The group also demanded mass screening of high school students for any health implications after they allegedly consumed expired rice. “Immediately after this scandal broke, public health officials announced a major monitoring exercise after doctors informed us of the medium and long-term implications of this insect-infested, highly acidic and contaminated rice. But here we are, everyone is playing the ostrich.” “The Ministry of Education must open the doors for this screening to take place,” he said.