The Ministry of Education has addressed claims made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that some 22,000 bags of purported expired and repackaged rice were given to Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.

The Ministry claims that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) certified the rice in question as wholesome.

According to Ablakwa, Lamens Investments Africa Limited and the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) colluded to distribute rice that had gone bad in December 2023.

The former Deputy Minister for Education further alleged that the rice was repackaged in locally made sacks with misleading labels such as "ECOWAS" and "Made in Ghana rice" but lacked an expiry date.