Expired Rice Saga: Arrest And Prosecute All Directors At Lamens Immediately – Minority Caucus To Prez. Akufo Addo | Politics

The National Democratic Members in parliament have placed a demand for the arrest and immediate prosecution Directors of Lamens Investments Africa over the alleged repackaging and distribution of expired rice to some Senior High schools as part of government’s school feeding programme.

This demand was made at a press conference held in Accra on Monday, November 18, where the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa asserted that the loud silence of President Akufo Addo is quite disturbing.

The North Tongu lawmaker expressed his utmost disappointment over the expired rice saga, thereby calling on the President to authorize the immediate arrest of all directors at the Lamens Investment Africa who have alleged been fingered in accusation.

Mr. Ablakwa said, “The NDC Caucus demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of the directors of Lamens Investments Africa Limited, Mr. Agyefi Mensah and Simon Agyei – those two directors. Simon Agyei at the time of the arrest was there supervising the illegal operations at the Buffer Stock company in Kumasi before the order came from above that he should be released. We demand their re-arrest and prosecution”

The minority Caucus further calls for a thorough investigation into the National Food Buffer Stock Company, whose facilities were allegedly used as storage for the expired rice.

“Such recklessness which sacrifices the health of our students for corrupt transactions must not go unpunished,” the minority stated.

The NDC MPs also called for a mass screening of all Senior High School students for any health implications as a result of the consumption of akllegedly expiored rice.

“Immediately after this scandal broke, public health officials announced a major screening exercise because the doctors have told us about the medium to long-term implications of this insect-infested, highly acidic and contaminated rice. But here we are, they are all playing ostriches. The Ministry of Education should open its doors for this screening to be done,”

Additionally, they demanded an inquiry into the Ministry of Education. According to the minority, the Foods and Drugs Authority where allegedly not permitted to do due diligence by fully inspecting the rice before its distribution to the various schools.