Communications Team Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ms Tabitha Apegyine Ayillah has asserted that the repackaged Moshosho expired rice has been approved and certified by the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA) contrary to claims by the Member of Parliament(MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
During a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Tabitha Ayillah justified the decision saying that the rice has not expired as purported although the quality has allegedly been compromised.
“Based on the evaluation information provided in the report, a base evaluation is different from an expiry date. That is not to say that the quality hasn’t been compromised. It has been compromised but it doesn’t mean it is unwholesome for consumption” Tabitha Ayillah explained.
She however a swift response, disclosed that she is not interested in defending the company for repackaging the rice but she is interested in the fact that the rice is wholesome for human consumption.
According to her, the reports from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) say the food is wholesome for consumption while adding that the last time secondary schools received rice from the company was as far back as February which has been confirmed by the Ghana Education Service(GES).
Tabitha Ayillah further disclosed that the date the FDA gave for the “best before” of the rice was in 30th April 2024 however, the rice was distributed before the date provided by the FDA hence it was wholesome for consumption.
Earlier today, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa spoke to the media while raising concerns about 22,000 bags of rice that were dispatched to various Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country that had expired and were repackaged.
In an interview on Joy FM, Mr. Ablakwa who doubles as the Chair of the Assurance Committee of Parliament said the ploy to distribute the consignment was deliberate on the part of the perpetrators.
He noted that the rice was repackaged into locally made sacks which bore ‘ECOWAS’ and ‘Made in Ghana rice’, however, there were no expiry dates written on them.
He added that the rice was distributed to various schools before receiving crucial clearance from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Source: Mynewsgh.com
