John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration’s policy of providing free tablets to senior high school students.
In Mahama’s view, the initiative is a strategic move by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to garner votes ahead of the 2024 general elections.
During a special public lecture at the Wisconsin International University College, Ghana, Mahama highlighted the government’s neglect of essential ongoing educational projects, attributing it to the focus on tablet distribution.
He expressed concerns over the lack of textbooks in basic schools for the past four years and questioned the prioritization of providing tablets to pre-tertiary students.
Mahama suggested that the allocation of GH¢1.3 billion to provide laptops for pre-tertiary students could have been better utilized to address other critical needs within the educational system.
He emphasized the importance of directing state resources towards addressing pressing issues within the education sector rather than using them for what he perceives as a means to sway voters.