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Ishmael Mensah Blog of Thursday, 21 November 2024

Source: Ishmael Mensah

Free SHS: According to Nana Boakye, no student has ever been given unhealthful food.

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Henry Nana Boakye, the board chair of the Buffer Stock Company and national organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has denied allegations that senior high school students had been fed unhealthy food. Lamens, the corporation involved in the expired rice controversy, has come under heavy fire from Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has called their conduct "criminal." Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, Mr. Ablakwa charged that the corporation had re-bagged unwholesome rice without following food safety regulations or properly labelling it, in violation of Ghana's Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).

"This company was mentioned in the 2021 Auditor General's report, and they are currently re-bagging expired rice, which is a criminal act," he stated. Additionally, he asserted that Lamens had already acknowledged the transgression and settled fines levied by regulatory bodies.

The alleged re-bagging of outdated rice that was originally imported from India but was mistakenly labelled as "Made in Ghana" was the incident that has caused widespread fury. According to Ghanaian regulations, the rice bags were devoid of crucial information, such as production and expiration dates.

Additionally, Mr. Ablakwa charged the National Buffer Stock Company with involvement, saying the organisation let the unlawful operation to use its storage facilities. He emphasised the need for accountability within the government agency by saying, "The Buffer Stock Company has opened its storage facility for this criminal activity to go on."

The government organisation in charge of acquiring and storing food supplies, the Buffer Stock Company, has come under fire for its part in making the scandal possible. Mr. Ablakwa contended that their supervision shortcomings exposed structural flaws in food safety monitoring in addition to endangering public health.

Henry Nana Boakye, the board chair of the Buffer Stock Company, has, however, brushed off Mr. Ablakwa's allegations. Speaking to the media, he declared that Mr. Ablakwa's accusations were completely untrue.

"These are unfounded, unimportant accusations. We have never given any student an unhealthy food, so that is untrue. He said, "I think that story is dead on arrival." He also chastised Mr. Ablakwa, pointing out that he frequently publishes sensational and unfavourable articles.