The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has leveled accusations against the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, alleging that he belittled Ghana’s education system during his recent tour of the Ashanti region.

Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, Augustus Nana Akwasi, expressed concern over the busing of students from various Senior High Schools (SHS) to the NPP’s youth connect program at the Jubilee Park.

He described this act as "worrying" and claimed it was not in the interest of the students but rather an attempt to boost Dr. Bawumia’s popularity in the NPP’s stronghold.

“The laws of Ghana do not allow partisan politics in our senior high schools, and so for the headmasters of these institutions to have released SHS students, some of whom are minors, to participate in political activities at the time they are supposed to be in school studying, indicates how low they are prepared to go to please their NPP collaborators,” said Nana Akwasi.

The NDC also criticized the Minister of Education, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, accusing him of exposing SHS students to a dangerous political adventure during school hours.

“It is a shame that somebody like Dr. Yaw Adutwum, who was brought in to introduce international best practices in our education sector, will be the very person destroying our senior high schools with unbridled partisan politicization. We are calling on parents to join forces with us to demand answers from CHASS and GES for exposing their wards to this needless political danger when school is supposed to be in session,” the NDC Chairman said.

The “Youth Connect” program is intended to be a platform for the NPP's flagbearer to engage with young people on his vision. However, the NDC described Dr. Bawumia's three-day Ashanti regional tour as unproductive and uninspiring.

Nana Akwasi also called on Dr. Bawumia to fulfill his promise of reconstructing a section of the Kejetia market that was destroyed by fire.

The NPP has not yet responded to these allegations.