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Alhaji Bimbola, the rice importer of the now �controversial consignment� of rice from Burma meant for this Christmas has assured rice-loving Ghanaians that, the rice is �completely wholesome� and that, they (Ghanaians) can enjoy their favourite meal during this yuletide. He vehemently refuted assertions that, the rice was rejected in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Benin. He stated that the �rice was in good condition as per the sample� his company received from its suppliers. However, The New Crusading Guide can authoritatively report that, the consignment of UNPL EMATA MYANMAR RICE from Burma which arrived on board the vessel, M/V STE FANIS was declared �UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION� BY SIERRA LEONEAN AUTHORITIES BEFORE IT ARRIVED IN GHANA BECAUSE �IT EMITTED OFFENSIVE ODOUR�. In an interview with this reporter over the weekend, Alhaji Bimbola vehemently denied reports that, the rice was declared unwholesome in Sierra Leone saying �No! no! no! no! Nobody rejected the rice in Sierra Leone. We have confidence that, there is no fault in our rice�, he declared, adding that �5000 tonnes were offloaded in Sierra Leone.� Contrary to this claims, documents in the hands of this paper from the Environmental Health Division, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Cline Town, Freetown, Sierra Leone states in its findings that �AFTER THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE CONSIGNMENT OF RICE, WE FOUND OUT THAT, THE RICE MENTIONED ABOVE (UNPL EMATA MYANMAR RICE) WERE EMITTING OFFENSIVE ODOUR AND HAS DETERIORATED IN QUALITY WHICH HAS RENDERED THEM UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION�. The document under the official stamp of the Meat&Food Inspection Division of Freetown recommended that �THIS OFFICE THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNPL EMATA MYANMAR RICE FOUND EMITTING OFFENSIVE ODOUR SHOULD BE SURRENDERED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SAFE AND SANITARY DESTRUCTION�. Interestingly, when Alhaji Bimbola was asked if he had knowledge of the termites in the rice, he said �that one I can�t tell�. Recalling the genesis of the rice importation, he explained that a lady called Peggy introduced Chira Abdul Gani as a supplier to him (Alhaji Bimbola) sometime ago. He said after some negotiations, Abdul Gani �sent samples direct from Burma to Amalbank�, who are their bankers. He further explained that a consignment of the rice was sent to Burkina Faso and Benin but because of problems with �Foreign Exchange in Cotonou� they could not buy the rice. �My brother, Amalbank is a witness to the first sample and I can say it is not expired, the date of manufacture is 2009 and the Expiry date is 2011�, he reiterated. Touching on the fumigation of the rice, he said �every three months rice in any warehouse must be fumigated otherwise it will be infested.� He however, expressed hope that the sample of the rice which had been sent to the Ghana Standards Board for testing would vindicate his assertion. The New Crusading Guide, it would be recalled, in its Thursday, December 10, 2009 edition, carried on its front-page a story under the heading �Red Alert: Contaminated Rice On Ghana�s Waters� in which it was reported that, reporters of The New Crusading Guide on board a chartered boat, had sighted MV Stephanis at the anchorage in Tema. THIS PAPER CAN CONFIRM THAT MV STEPHANIS BERTHED IN GHANA ON 7 DECEMBER 2009, AFTER BEING REJECTED IN CONAKRY, GUINEA AND FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE. IT WAS CARRYING A QUANTITY OF 11,487 METRIC TONNES OF BURMESE RICE, 25% BROKEN, HOPING THAT IT COULD BE PUSHED UNTO THE GHANAIAN CONSUMER, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. THE SHIPPER OF THE CONSIGNMENT WAS UNIVERSAL NAVIGATION PTE LTD. While the importers of the rice were not given respite in other countries, Port Health Authorities in Ghana have been kind enough to go and fumigate the vessel and its contaminants. Though a critical look at the rice showed the magnitude of infestation, Mr Saka, the Port Health Director, was kind enough to send samples to the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) for a test, a process, he said, would take a week to complete. The result is expected tomorrow Tuesday. �I HAVE PHYSICALLY EXAMINED THE SAMPLES OF RICE. THEY WERE INFESTED AND I HAVE ALREADY TOLD THE OWNERS THAT JUDGING FROM WHAT WE SAW FROM THE SAMPLES THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO PASS THE TEST�, Mr Saka indicated in an interview� Please stay tuned��