Heated exchanges erupted at a sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after a former Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture alleged that “party people” took control of warehouses following the 2024 elections, disrupting the distribution of rice.

The claim sparked immediate concern among committee members, with the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, demanding clarity on the statement. He cautioned that such claims, if not properly explained, could create misleading impressions and compromise the integrity of parliamentary records.

His attempt to seek clarification, however, triggered a tense standoff, as exchanges intensified despite interventions from the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and other members of the committee aimed at restoring calm.

The committee pressed to determine whether the reference to “party people” suggested political interference or pointed to specific individuals or entities involved in the rice supply chain.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, told the committee that one of the companies cited for infractions in the Auditor-General’s special report - Rans Logistics - has refunded approximately ¢19 million to the state following the report’s findings.

The developments underscore heightened scrutiny of procurement and distribution processes within the agriculture sector, particularly regarding the handling of food supplies in the aftermath of the 2024 elections.