School feeding caterers reject suspected expired rice

Caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern have rejected 604 bags of suspected expired rice supplied to them by the national secretariat of the programme.

The Birim Central Municipal Co-ordinator of the GSFP, Mr Charles Oppong Kwakye, who confirmed the rejection of the expired rice, however, stated that his outfit, the municipal assembly and national secretariat of the GSFP were taking measures to replace the expired rice.

He was responding to concerns raised by the caterers in an interview on Wednesday.

Rumours were widespread in the municipality that suspected expired and weevil infested rice had been supplied to the caterers to be used for pupils in the municipality.

Some of the caterers who spoke to the Daily Graphic said all the caterers decided to reject the rice because they could not feed the children with such food.

Although the cost of the rice had been deducted from the money due them, the caterers said it was neither in their interest nor that of the children to accept such unwholesome products.

According to them, the cost of the expired rice was GH¢80 per bag, which was more expensive than the unexpired commodity sold on the open market.

Source: Daily Graphic