The former Health Minister, Alex Segbefia has criticised the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for accusing the opposition NDC’s flagbearer, John Mahama for politicising the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story Tuesday, Mr Segbefia said former President Mahama was only responding to a publication where the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta had indicated that the country’s economy has been badly affected by the pandemic and would take three years to recover.

Therefore, “there was no need for Vice President Bawumia to respond to anything the President Mahama said.

“Nobody in the opposition party said the economy was suffering it was the Finance Minister himself. So please let’s put this in perspective.”

His comments come after Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia touted President Akufo-Addo’s management of the economy even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to former President John Mahama, who criticised government’s handling of the crisis, Dr Bawumia said “we have been able to perform much better on the situation we inherited.

"In fact, the data makes it very clear. So My humble advice to former President Mahama is to take a look at the data before you speak, otherwise, you will end up embarrassing yourself,” Dr Bawumia added when he chaired a coronavirus event at the Jubilee House on Monday.

The Vice President’s statement has been heavily criticised by a section of the public, particularly those on social media.

Mr Segbefia noted that, even if former President Mahama had made political utterances during his Facebook live interactions, Dr Bawumia, the second gentleman of the land was not the right person to reply to the opposition at a time the country is dealing with a global crisis.

“Are you telling me that with the 125 ministers you (NPP) couldn’t get anyone to respond but for the Number one and the Number two gentlemen of the land to descend into deep and hardcore politics in response and that is appropriate?”

“Well social media users, CSOs, religious leaders have given them (government) the answer with their reaction. That is why I have said that if that is their way to tackling this pandemic, then I wish them good luck, Ghanaians will be the judges.”

On his part, the Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide on the same programme said there is nothing wrong with Dr. Bawumia responding accordingly to unwarranted criticisms put out there by the opposition.

According to him, government as part of the effort to fight Covid-19 must correct misinformation and misinterpretation, particularly those spread by the opposition.

“Former President Mahama has made about seven speeches through social media interaction. But when closely monitored, you will realize that there is an act or attempt to politicize this sensitive matter, he said.”