The National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has strongly criticised John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for his remarks on the government's 'One-Student-One-Tablet' initiative.Mustapha took to social media to express his disapproval of Mahama's stance, calling for the public to regard such comments with contempt.

0

Mustapha argued that while the NPP government prioritises the welfare of students as the future of the nation, Mahama views them merely as potential voters in upcoming elections.He questioned Mahama's credibility and the NDC's right to criticise the initiative, reminding them of a similar project implemented during their tenure.

1

"John Mahama says that the current program to give 1student 1Laptop under the Ghana Smart School Project is an attempt to bribe the SHS students for votes. Such horrible thinking should be treated with scorn and disdain."These are SHS students, most of whom have no votes, so as to how it constitutes a bribe attempt beats every imagination.

2

It's clear to us that in the mind of Sgt Lee, he doesn't see them as human beings but rather ballot papers," Mustapha remarked.<img src="

alt="" class="wp-image-653579"/><img src="

alt="" class="wp-image-653577"/>"Has John Mahama suddenly developed amnesia too, to forget his own RLG (formerly

3

Roagams Link Ghana Ltd ) project with his bosom friend Roland Agambire? Or is it just sheer hypocrisy or dishonesty?" he questioned.John Dramani Mahama, speaking at a student forum at Wisconsin University in Accra, criticised the government's allocation of tablets to high school students, labelling it as a tactic to influence votes.

4

Mahama argued, "you bring a new curriculum; the children have no textbooks in basic schools for the last four years, and you think that giving pre-tertiary students tablets is more important. Of course, everybody knows the political expediency.""The pre-tertiary students are going to register in May because some of them are going to be 18 and above. Some are 18 already, and they are going to be the ones voting.

5

So, this is a gift to entice them to vote for the current government. It's a bribe for them to vote for this government, but I mean, the students do not exist in isolation. They live in households and families," Mahama added.In 2010, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in Ghana contracted RLG Communications Limited to manufacture and distribute over 103,181 laptops. The NDC government at the time paid GH¢51,257,500.

6

00 for these laptops.However, RLG was only able to produce 90,448 laptops, leaving a balance of 12,733 pieces worth GH¢6,366,875.00 undelivered. This discrepancy led to violations in the execution of the contract, as highlighted in a 2015 Auditor General’s Report.

7

As a result, RLG Communications Limited agreed to repay GH¢6 million to the government due to its failure to supply the remaining laptops under the Free Laptop Distribution Programme in 2010.

8