The Ministry of Education has urged the National Democratic Congress's flagbearer, John Mahama, to refrain from politicising all government policies, particularly those concerning education.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, despite government efforts to enhance some sectors of the economy to meet technological advancements, the opposition has consistently viewed government achievements through a political lens.

On March 25, President Akufo-Addo announced the distribution of 1.3 million tablets to students at all levels of Senior High Schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Ghana Smart School Project.

• Read also: 1.3 million tablets to be distributed to pre-tertiary students – Akufo-Addo

The President said the tablets will complement textbooks and enhance students' digital skills.

However, the NDC flagbearer, commenting on the initiatives, described it as vote-buying and an attempt to lure SHS students turning 18 to vote New Patriotic Party into office.

In a rebuttal to these concerns, Mr Kwarteng explained on JoyNews’ The Pulse on April 4, that the distribution of tablets to pre-tertiary students was among the measures the government was adopting to bridge the technological gap in the country.

 “Why should Ghanaian students be denied access to the relevant technological equipment and deployment, especially within a crucial time like this where the whole world is talking about digitalisation?. Just on the basis that a political party is not convinced about the motive behind the sharing of the tablets.

“Why should ordinary Ghanaian students suffer and be denied access to what the rest of the world, their counterparts are having because we have an election in 2024?,” he quizzed further.

• Read also: Mahama accuses government of using free tablet distribution to solicit votes

Mr Kwarteng urged the opposition flagbearer to move away from politicising everything and evaluate the initiatives based on their merits.

“I think that yes, politics largely has an impact on socioeconomic transformation and everything but I mean sometimes let's be fair, let's stand up to the occasion, let the whole world know that it is not everything that we have to play politics with it, particularly education.

“We have allowed ourselves and destroyed every gain that we chalked as a country with the politicisation and extreme politicisation of issues.

“Today every topic that we raise, if we talk about National Health Insurance, it is politicised, if you talk about taxation, it is politicised, If you talk about the strength of our cedi, it is politicised,” he lamented.