Rumour-mongering have no place in education – Chief of Staff
Frema Osei Opare, the Chief of Staff, has expressed dissatisfaction of the comments made surrounding the alleged distribution of stale rice that has been repackaged to specific Senior High Schools (SHSs).
Her remarks address claims made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament from North Tongu, that these schools received almost 22,000 bags of repackaged and outdated rice.
In light of the accusations, the minority in parliament demanded on Monday, November 18, that the directors of Lamens Investment Africa Limited be arrested and that the board and management of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) be sanctioned.
Additionally, Ablakwa asserted that even though Lamens Ventures was cited by the Auditor General in 2021 for supplying inferior food goods, the government has not taken any measures.
Frema Osei Opare responded to Ablakwa’s claims by calling the subject “propaganda and rumour-mongering,” claiming that such topics are improper in an educational setting.
She exhorted Ghanaians to concentrate on projects that will further the country’s development.
The Chief of Staff in an interview with Joy News on Monday, November 18 said, “You know it is not true, so please let us focus on things that move this country forward… We have good things, we have to focus on how we advance the Ghanaian children, and how we improve their opportunities so that they become good citizens. Propaganda and rumour-mongering have no place in education,” according to a report citinewsroom.com.
The Ministry of Education’s Public Relations Officer, Kwasi Kwarteng, said the Food and Drugs Authority has confirmed that the rice that was given to schools was safe to eat.
In contrast to Ablakwa’s persistent claims, Mr. Kwarteng stressed that the rice had not gone bad.
He went on to explain that Lamens was penalized by the FDA for failing to obtain FDA approval prior to repackaging the rice, not for making dangerous food available.
