FDB orders re-loading of unwholesome rice

Tema, Jan. 5, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in conjunction with the National Security and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), on Tuesday ordered the re-loading of 15,000 bags of rice, being part of a consignment, which arrived in Ghana on December 7, 2009.

Stefanis, the vessel, which carried the total consignment of about 230,000 bags of rice into the country, would ultimately be shipped back to Myanmar, the country of origin.

Speaking to newsmen at the Tema Harbour just before the re-loading exercise began, Mr Emmanuel Yaw Kwarteng, Head of the Import and Export Department of the FDB, said following a thorough laboratory analysis by the Board, the bags of rice were found to be unwholesome and therefore not good for human consumption.

Mr Kwarteng said the 15,000 bags of rice discharged from the vessel on December 7, were kept at a warehouse in Shed Eight of the Harbour.

He intimated that the consignment was initially rejected in Sierra Leone and Guinea, and that its ownership was believed to be in the Republic of South Africa.

Mr Kwarteng stated that the re-shipment of the consignment was to safeguard the health of unsuspecting consumers.

The exercise was supervised jointly by officials from the FDB, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the National Security, the BNI and the Port Health Service.

GNA